Texas Rural Reporter Weekly Email July 14, 2023

Here are this week's stories about rural Texas that you need to read.

LEGISLATIVE

State Leaders Agree on Tax Relief Proposals

On Monday, State leaders announced they have reached an agreement on tax relief for Texas Taxpayers, signaling an end to the standoff between Republican leaders who have been in a disagreement on how the state’s $32.7 billion surplus would be spent.

Long-awaited $18 billion property tax-cut deal heads to Gov. Greg Abbott

A landmark $18 billion tax cut for property owners in the state is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk late Thursday, ending a monthslong stalemate among the state’s top Republicans with a deal that drew near-unanimous support from legislators. Both chambers adjourned sine die Thursday evening, ending the second special session Abbott had called this summer to hammer out an agreement on property tax relief.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Need for the High-Speed Internet

With an increased reliance on high-speed internet, the Trump Administration began taken important steps to provide connectivity to those that need it, particularly in rural areas, which still continues today. One such program that started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), which eventually became the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP.)