HOUSTON, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee and a leading architect of Texas property tax reforms, voiced strong support for Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s proposal—“Operation Double Nickel”—to significantly increase school district homestead exemptions beginning next legislative session, continuing the movement toward delivering historic, permanent property tax relief across the Lone Star State for Texas homeowners.

Senator Bettencourt responded to today’s press conference stating: “Increasing the ISD homestead exemption and especially lowering the senior benefit age to 55 means all 6.1 million Texas homesteads will see lifetime savings as long as they own the home. Immediately if approved by the voters, the newly approved proposition would save over 55’s nearly a $1,000 per year reduction and declining ISD property tax bills there after, as many Texas seniors have seen.”

During the press conference, Lt. Gov. Patrick detailed both the immediate benefits and the long-term vision behind Operation Double Nickel. He emphasized the protection this delivers to Texans nearing retirement: “We’re going to take the senior homestead exemption down to 55. What does that mean? That means for an extra 10 years, from 55 to 65, your values are frozen. You don’t ever have to worry about appraisals anymore.”

The Lt. Governor also highlighted continued implementation of the largest property tax cut in Texas history, passed during the 88th and 89th Legislature through SB 2, SB 3, and HJR 2, which included the new $140,000 Homestead Exemption for all homeowners and $200,000 for seniors and those disabled, billions in school M&O rate compression, and substantial relief for small businesses. He is now proposing raising the general homestead exemption from $140,000 to $180,000, and the senior exemption from $200,000 to $240,000 for Texans over 55.

Patrick described the growing impact of homestead exemptions statewide: “In the last several years, the average Texas homeowner has saved $2,000 on their property taxes by homestead exemptions going up and some compression that we work in there. But that’s not enough, and we all know that’s not enough.” Bettencourt added: “Operation Double Nickel delivers more!”

Lt. Gov. Patrick also explained why homestead exemptions deliver stronger savings per taxpayer dollar than compression: “For every billion dollars that we invest in homestead exemptions, you get about $130 savings. For every billion dollars of compression, which is reducing the tax rate, you get about $30.” Sen. Bettencourt concluded: “School homestead exemption increases are more budget efficient.”

Texas currently has 6.1 million homesteads, and approximately 3.3 million seniors would have their ISD values frozen under the proposal. Lt. Gov. Patrick ended the conference and pointed to the overwhelming public support for these measures: “The proof is in the pudding. Every time we put homestead exemptions on the ballot, it passes overwhelmingly. Number two, it’s in the Constitution, guaranteed and can’t be taken away.”

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