Senate Bill 9

May 10, 2011

This analysis examines Senate Bill 9’s proposals to increase fees, implement a new state government program, and add to the state’s workforce and highlights possible impacts of the bill.

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Cunningham v. City of Austin

Date Filed: March 23, 2026 Original Court: Travis County District Court Case Status: Pending Under Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution, home rule cities can impose taxes as long as those taxes are authorized by law or by their city charters. The Texas Tax Code requires that local taxes be approved by voters through...

March 23, 2026

Energy & Environment

Southern Spirit Line: High Voltage Hype, Low Impact for Texas

The proposed Southern Spirit transmission line connecting Texas to Louisiana and Mississippi has generated a lot of headlines over the past week, with my favorite coming from the publication Electrek: “Hell froze over in Texas—the state will connect to the U.S. grid for the first time via a fed grant.” I laughed. The article fails...

October 11, 2024

Local Government

Examining Local Government Spending Trends From 2014 to 2023

City and county spending has outpaced growth in population and inflation, leading to an increase in the tax burden on Texan taxpayers. Key points: Local government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. From 2014 to 2023, local government spending rose by 61.2%, whereas population and inflation increased by only 42.7%. Elevated...

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