In a move to reduce the financial burden on Texas homeowners, the state senate has passed two bills that aim to deliver around $360 worth of property tax savings for residents across the Lone Star State.
The legislation presented by Republican State Senator Paul Bettencourt aligns with Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent directive to provide $10 billion total in property tax relief. Increasing the Homestead Exemption was also one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top ten priorities this legislative session.
Senate Bill 4 and its companion Senate Joint Resolution 2 focus on increasing the Texas homestead exemption for school district taxing entities to $140,000 and $150,000 for seniors 65 and older. This change is expected to benefit close to 5.7 million homeowners statewide, providing them with an average savings of $363 on their property tax bills, according to a news release from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s office.
“When I became Lt. Governor in 2015, the Homestead Exemption was $15,000 and, today, the exemption is $100,000, and $110,000 for seniors. In 2023, the $100,000 Homestead Exemption was permanently codified into the Texas Constitution when voters passed Proposition 4 with 83% of voters in support. This makes the $100,000 Homestead Exemption permanent, and homeowners will receive tax relief every single year, forever,” Patrick wrote.
According to Patrick, the current legislation builds upon these previous successes.
If the two companion bills pass in the House and “voters approve the constitutional amendment proposal in the November 2025 elections, the $140,000 Homestead Exemption will be codified in the Texas constitution forever,” Patrick added. The bill also provides an additional $10,000 exemption for seniors 65 and older.
The bills have received broad bipartisan support, passing unanimously with backing from both Republican and Democratic senators.
“Based on the unanimous 30-0 vote, it is clear Senators from both sides of the aisle understand that when an increased Homestead Exemption and more compression are combined, homeowners receive maximum tax relief benefit,” Patrick added.
Now that the bills have passed the Texas Senate, they will move to the state House of Representatives for consideration. House Speaker Dustin Burrows has already outlined committee assignments, with hearings expected to begin soon, according to NewsRadio KRLD 1080.
If approved by the House, the property tax savings could provide substantial financial relief for homeowners across the state, particularly during an era of rising property values and taxes. Once signed into law, SB 4 and SJR 2 will trigger a constitutional amendment vote in November 2025.
The Homestead Exemption would apply retroactively to tax bills for 2025, according to Patrick’s office.