Just Visiting
What to know: Tourism brought in $1.3 billion to the city of New Braunfels, Texas in 2023 (the latest published numbers). So why are city officials banning short-term rentals, such as AirBnBs?
The TPPF take: TPPF attorneys have filed a lawsuit challenging New Braunfels’ ban on short-term rentals.
“For over five years, our clients have been forced to fight for their right to use their homes as they—and generations before them—always have,” says TPPF’s Chance Weldon. “The Fifth Circuit has already made it clear that local governments must do more than just provide conclusory statements to justify stripping property owners of their rights. The district court’s refusal to follow this directive undermines constitutional protections and emboldens government overreach.”
Reining in Government
What to know: Appearing on TPPF CEO Greg Sindelar’s podcast, The Arena, Texas State Sen. Paul Bettencourt spoke about the growth of government—and reining it in.
The TPPF take: Unchecked government growth restricts our freedoms.
“In 2019, for the first time in 38 years, we lowered the growth of government,” Bettencourt explained. “That’s a really important concept, because if you slow the growth of government, you slow the tax bills. That’s the only way.”
Test Scores
What to know: Standardized test scores continue to decline in many parts of Texas. All three Lubbock school districts saw drops in student performance.
The TPPF take: No one loves standardized tests, but we have to know if our children are learning.
“Nearly half of Texas high school seniors fail their final English and Math assessments,” says TPPF’s Jorge Borrego. “And year after year, the numbers don’t lie. We are sending students across that graduation stage with a handshake, a diploma, and skills far below what they need to succeed.”