The Texas Association of REALTORS® presents

The 84th Texas Legislature A Legislative Update for Texas REALTORS®

The Basics

• 140 days every two years• The 84th Texas Legislature – Composition• House – 98 republicans, 52 democrats• Senate – 20 republicans, 11 democrats

• Why we care about government

Legislative Priorities for Texas REALTORS®

(and what’s happening …)

Under All is the

Land …• Broad legislative agenda• Traditional “real estate” issues• Infrastructure• Business climate

• Subcommittee process• Six subcommittees

• New in 2014 - Commercial• Meet in the interim

TexasRealEstate.com/Issues

What’s happening?

• TAR priorities–Property Tax relief–Business Tax relief–Transportation funding–TREC–Education

Property tax relief

SJR 1 (Jane Nelson- R Flower Mound)• Homestead exemption increase• Currently $15k• Proposed increase to 25% of

median value statewide• No Tax on Real Estate transactions …

ever. (including commercialpurchases and leases)

Tax relief for Texas businesses

• SB 7 (Nelson) would reduce the franchise tax rate by 15%• SB 8 (Schwertner) would increase the floor for franchise tax

liability from $1 million to $4 million• SB 765 (Eltife) would repeal the professional fees that all

brokers pay

FRUSTRATED WITH TRAFFIC?

To maintain current level of “suckage”, TxDOT needs billions of dollars …

Transportation funding

• Our policy–Pay as you go = conservative–Gasoline tax is outdated–Bond debt is crushing the state (nearly tripled

since 2000)– Toll roads are up to 15x more expensive per

mile

• Proposition 1 (2014)– Voter mandate - 80% passage– A good first step

• SB 5 / SJR 5 (Nichols) – Would direct some proceeds of the

motor vehicle sales tax to the state highway fund (NO TOLL ROADS)

• HB 13/ HJR 13 (Pickett)– Would dedicate $3 billion of net sales tax revenue to state

highway fund (NO TOLL ROADS)

Transportation funding

Texas Real Estate Commission

• SB 699 (Eltife) / HB 1918 (Kuempel)– Broad bill– Highlights • Education

– Floor, no ceiling– CONTRACTS!

• Recovery Fund• Complaint/Investigation/Enforcement procedures

Education and more …

• Public Education – How are the schools?– Choice, curriculum, building toward the future– Lawsuit

• Higher Education– Excessive tuition and student loans– Delayed entry to the market

• Appraisal Reform– SB 773 (Hancock) – level the playing field between

commercial and residential

Commercial bills • HB 342 (Dutton) Relating to periodic reauthorization of municipal

building permit fees. (Support)– Summary: Sets a time limit on building permit fees so that they are

abolished after 10 years unless reauthorized by a majority vote of the city council at a public hearing.

• HB 1472 (Workman) Relating to the enforcement of requirements for the issuance of local permits by regulatory agencies of political subdivisions. (Support)– Summary: Allows the attorney general to bring an action to enforce the

chapter on the issuance of local permits. Holds a political subdivision liable for actual damages and reasonable attorney’s fees if it is found in a civil action that a political subdivision violated the chapter on the issuance of local permits.

What can YOU do?

• Stay informed– Read and share the Legislative Liaison

• Invest in TREPAC– Support our friends

• Vote– Elect REALTOR® Champions – Pass friendly ballot measures

• Be a lobbyist– Hill Visits – April 14

Questions?

• Raise your hand – your local administrator will unmute your group

(yes, everyone will be able to hear you)

• Text your questions to 512.786.6724

Who’s on the Twitters?• @TxRealtors

(TAR main)

• @TAR_GA (TAR governmental affairs)

• @TexasTREPAC (TREPAC)

• @Voice4Texas (consumer outreach)

• @TxDan_Gonzalez (Legislative Director)

• @SGarza2012 (Jr. Lobbyist)

• @leslietcantu (TREPAC Director)

• @TAR_bca (Political Affairs Director)