Texas 90th Legislature Property Tax 2027: What Homeowners Should Watch

Last updated November 6, 2026.

Bill prefiling for the 90th Texas Legislature opens Monday, November 9, 2026. Regular session starts January 12, 2027. After a wave of failed school tax-rate elections and a statewide leadership change, property tax and school finance will be among the first topics owners should track.

This page explains the calendar that matters for homeowners, what local VATRE results signal for Austin, and how to watch bills without drowning in noise.

Key dates for the 90th Texas Legislature

Official and legislative-calendar sources list these milestones:

• November 9, 2026 — First day legislators and legislators-elect may file bills for the 90th Legislature (Texas Legislative Council Dates of Interest).
• January 12, 2027 — Opening day; House and Senate convene at noon.
• March 12, 2027 — Last day to file most bills.
• May 31, 2027 — Sine die (session ends).

The Texas Municipal League’s November 6, 2026 newsletter also flags that prefiling begins Monday and that early session priorities will shift with new House leadership.

Why property tax is on the clock again

Texas has no state property tax. Local appraisal districts set values; cities, counties, school districts, and special districts set rates. The Legislature still writes the rules for appraisal caps, homestead exemptions, voter-approval rates, and school funding formulas that push districts toward Voter-Approval Tax Rate Elections (VATREs).

On Nov. 3, 2026, voters rejected most local school tax-rate and bond asks in many metro areas, while a few districts—such as Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD—narrowly passed a VATRE. Districts that lost revenue will lobby Austin for formula fixes. Owners will see homestead, appraisal-cap, and school-finance drafts as soon as prefiling opens.

Sources: Texas Public Radio on Bexar-area VATRE results; SCUC ISD unofficial VATRE results.

What Texas homeowners should watch (not guess)

• School finance and M&O formulas — Failed VATREs leave operating gaps. Watch bills that change basic allotment, enrichment pennies, or compression.
• Homestead and senior exemptions — Drafts that raise school homestead exemptions or expand over-65/disabled relief show up early almost every session.
• Appraisal and rate limits — Proposals on appraisal growth caps, voter-approval calculations, or truth-in-taxation notice rules affect next year’s notice and protest cycle.
• Data centers and local incentives — Local tax abatements and large-load utility policy often ride alongside property-tax debates.

Do not treat campaign slogans as law. A bill is not real until it has a number on Texas Legislature Online, a committee hearing, and a final vote in both chambers (plus the governor’s signature for most statutes).

How to track bills without living on Twitter

1. Starting Nov. 9, search TLO for keywords like “homestead,” “appraisal,” “voter-approval,” and “Tax Code.”
2. Follow committee agendas for Ways & Means, Local Government, and Public Education once session opens.
3. Read the text and fiscal note before sharing a claim about “savings.” TaxDrop never quotes implied savings from unsigned bills.

While Austin debates next year’s rules, you still control this year’s taxable value. Protest with TaxDrop when your appraisal notice arrives—ARB evidence works whether or not a new exemption bill passes.

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