AUSTIN, TX – During the 89th Legislature’s 2nd Called Special Session, convened by Governor Greg Abbott, Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) passed three priority bills, designated by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, through the Texas Senate Committee on Finance by Chair Joan Huffman with strong support.

SB 3 – Outdoor Flood Warning Sirens: Is in response Texas’ devastating July 4th flood disaster, to authorize the installation of proven, time-tested outdoor warning sirens to alert residents and visitors when flood danger is imminent. Addressing a critical public safety gap in the “Flash Flood Alley,” where riverside youth camps, RV parks, and recreational areas often lack reliable cellular service for emergency alerts.

Key Provisions:

• Requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to identify high-risk flood areas statewide.
• Directs counties and municipalities to install, operate, and maintain sirens under TWDB rules.
• Establishes a $50 million grant program administered by the Office of the Governor.
• Sets requirements for siren equipment, backup power, and emergency activation protocols.

“Testimony after testimony confirms flood warning sirens are needed, proven effective, and can get folks to higher ground to save lives immediately!” Bettencourt said after Kerrville flood hearing.

SB 9 – Replaces STAAR Test & Restores Public School A-F Accountability System: Following a second unanimous ruling by 15th Court of Appeals on July 8 to release 2023–24 A–F school accountability ratings. SB 9 replaces the STAAR with 3 shorter, student supportive test while supporting the A–F rating system.

Key Provisions:

• Replaces STAAR with Beginning-, Middle-, and End-of-Year tests, with results within 48 hours.
• Limits benchmark testing to return instructional time to teachers and restore annual A–F ratings.
• Prohibits “Not Rated” designations and taxpayer-funded lawsuits against the accountability system.
• Refreshes cut scores every 5 years to ensure Texas ranks in the Top 5 nationally within 15 years.

“This is the same solid, bipartisan Conference Committee Report drafted with House Education Chair Buckley during the regular 89th session and 1st special session to put students, parents, and teachers first,” Sen. Bettencourt adds. “The bottom line is: What gets measured gets fixed and SB 9 measures what matters, student success while ending the states A-F taxpayer lawfare!”

SB 10 – Reducing City/County Voter-Approval Tax Rate (VATR) Levies: Despite the historic school property tax relief success from 2019 in SB 2, which lowered VATRs from 8% to 3.5%, where ISD levy growth dropped from 18.26% to 3.21% annually. County levies growth climbed from 8.74% to 9.65% annually and city levies growth dropped to 8% annually. SB 10 closes this levy growth gap by reducing their VATR.

Key Provisions:

• Reduces VATR for cities/counties over 75K pop. from 3.5% to 2.5%, matching school districts.
• Keeps 3.5% cap for smaller areas with voter approval required above limits in Nov. elections.
• Delivers $1.92B in direct local funding for 2026–27, including $1.5B for water projects, $331M for rural law enforcement, and $90M for ambulances.

“The next step to giving lasting ISD property tax relief is to rein in the growth on city and county tax bills, by ensuring when rates go down as values go up.” Bettencourt concludes.

These bills deliver life-saving flood safety measures, restore public education accountability on student outcomes, and provide lasting property tax relief for Texans. The measures now move to the full Senate.

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