Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State Rep. Jared Patterson briefs The Colony on 2025 session, pushes for voter approval of property tax changes
Summary
State Representative Jared Patterson told the council the 2025 legislative session included a $51 billion property tax relief package, major water-infrastructure spending and new measures on land ownership and border security, and asked for local backing of constitutional amendments on November’s ballot.
State Representative Jared Patterson reported to The Colony City Council on actions taken during the recently completed 2025 legislative session in Austin, emphasizing a package of property tax relief and major infrastructure investments.
“Thanks to our great Texas economy, we were blessed with a significant surplus of funds,” Patterson said, adding that the Legislature committed “$51,000,000,000 towards property tax relief.” He described proposed increases to the homestead exemption, saying voters would be asked in November to approve raising the school-homestead exemption to $140,000 for most taxpayers and $200,000 for seniors if the measures pass.
Patterson also described water infrastructure as a central focus of the session. He said the session advanced the largest state investment in water in Texas history, citing $2,500,000,000 as part of a broader $20,000,000,000 plan and noting the work will be combined with other Texas Water Development Board funding.
On security and land policy, Patterson said the Legislature passed a set of bills aimed at limiting land ownership by actors linked to certain foreign nations. “We have empowered the attorney general in the state of Texas to go divest people from their property if they are an organization from one of the four hostile foreign nations, China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, or if they’re an agent acting on behalf of one of those nations,” he said.
Patterson highlighted energy and public-safety measures: the session added $5,000,000,000 to the Texas Energy Fund to support new natural-gas-fired generation, and Gov. Greg Abbott signed bills creating a state Department of Homeland Security within DPS and expanding coordination between sheriffs and federal immigration authorities (described as SB 36 and SB 8).
The representative cautioned that the governor has called a special session with pending items that could further affect municipal budgets and authority. “We really don’t know ultimately what’s gonna pass yet,” Patterson told council members, and he invited local input on how proposed changes might affect municipal services and capital planning.
Council members asked clarifying questions about funding sources and implementation timelines; Patterson said much of the surplus comes from sales-tax revenue and severance taxes and that the state maintains a large rainy-day fund to backstop commitments.
The update concluded with Patterson offering to return on Oct. 16 with additional briefings alongside state Senator Hager, and to continue working with the city on pending grant applications and local priorities.
