A conversation with State Representative Brian Harrison on the how and why of removing property tax in Texas (and it could work, too!)

ELLIS COUNTY - In the world of technology sometimes things go awry.

I wrote an article several weeks ago about a proposed constitutional amendment State Representative Brian Harrison, District 10 was introducing in this year’s 88th Texas legislative session to get rid of property taxes in Texas within five years.

I asked a lot of questions, and it appeared I did not get the answers.

I had a lot of Ellis County constituents making comments about this proposed constitutional amendment.

And then, I was informed that Harrison’s office did respond with responses that answered my questions, but I did not receive the email.

Thankfully, I was able to get Representative Harrison on the phone last Friday and we had a nice long chat about the property tax issue in Texas.

Harrison has filed House Joint Resolution 145 and House Bill 3455.

Press release background noted HJR 145 would amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit political subdivisions from imposing any property taxes after January 1, 2029.

Additionally, since the State of Texas currently guarantees all ISD bonds, the constitutional amendment keeps that system in place.

As with all constitutional amendments, this measure, if passed, would go to the voters for approval on November 7, 2023. 

HB 3455 is the enabling legislation for the constitutional amendment and would create an interim study committee with members of the Texas Legislature appointed by the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor. This committee will assist political subdivisions by conducting a study to determine how to replace the local property tax revenue with sales taxes.

After finishing my conversation with Rep. Harrison, I now believe very strongly what he is proposing could work. And, if Harrison can make this happen, he might consider running for an office that will take him out of Texas and east to DC – and I’ll be right behind him.

After all, can you name one person in America who does not think property tax is a big fail?

Harrison believes “Property taxes are unethical and incompatible with private property rights.”

So, let’s get into it.

Harrison is a member of the Freedom Caucus in the Texas House, which is a collection of some of the most conservative Republican members. 

“We formally have this in our position to support,” he explained “with the goal of complete abolition of property taxes.”

Harrison said what he is doing with House Joint Resolution 145 and House Bill 3455 is consistent with the position of the Freedom Caucus as well as the official position of the Republican Party of Texas. 

“This is a mainstream view among conservatives and quite frankly it has bipartisan support,” he added. 

“The property tax hurts Democrats as much as it does Republicans. We have been trying to reform property taxes for as long as I have been alive and what do we have to show for it?”

While he does acknowledge there have been some improvements, he explained every year his constituents are writing checks bigger than they wrote the year before.

“I can’t tell you how many people reach out to me and wonder how they are going to afford to be able to stay in their homes.”

So, what needs to happen, Harrison said it is time to switch to a system that is more fair and that allows people to finally own their own homes. 

“If you are paying property taxes on your home forever you don’t own your home even when you pay off your mortgage,” he said, “You can call yourself a homeowner, but you are just a renter, and the government is your landlord.”

So that’s the problem – now what is the solution?

“What my proposal would be is to set up a study committee that would work with the political subdivisions with your cities and your counties and your school boards to come up with a plan over five years,” he explained. “I believe, I have seen proposals where this could be done much faster. I want to be fair with the cities and counties and schools and a five-year plan, so the study committee would be a state study committee.”

“We would work over a five-year period hand-in-hand with the cities and counties and school boards to give them whatever resources they would need to construct a system probably based on sales tax or consumption tax so it would be more equitable, more fair, broader based and it could even keep the rates lower,” Harrison said.

“Think about it, one of the biggest drivers about how expensive goods and services is revolves around how expensive the buildings cost they are in. The building is so expensive because of the property taxes. This would be a win-win for everyone while at the same time giving people more control over how much taxes they must pay because you can’t choose how the appraisal district says your house bill is or your school board or city council so what your home is taxed at that is what you have to pay.  If you are taxed on consumption, it would give taxpayers for the first time more actual real control over their tax bill.”

Business and residents would also be on a level playing field too. 

“Right now, there are all these tax abatements so maybe a new business moves to town and they get a tax abatement, but the ma and pa shop that has been there for 30 years is paying full rate on their property tax so it levels the playing field for everyone,” he said.

Harrison has worked on this property tax conundrum for some time including with Vance Ginn, a PhD Economist who worked at the White House, who has now publicly gone on record supporting Harrison’s proposal.

Harrison also pointed out getting rid of property tax and in exchange for consumption tax wouldn’t necessarily mean less money.

“Under my plan, it doesn’t mean that just because you are switching to the way you tax people means the amount you get goes down it is just how do you go about collecting taxes from people,” he said.

“I think we need to do it in a fair way allowing them to expand their consumption rates and we would work with them for a five-year period and it would not mean we are bringing in less money, it is just doing it in a way that is fair and more broad based. Everyone is treated the same and for the first time we let people own their own homes.” 

In closing, Harrison said he plans to always fight for a property tax free Texas.

“I filed this bill because I said what is the target. What is the goal we are driving for and even if we don’t get it done this session maybe we will next session. There will be a lot of measures as to where we are today and the day, we finally get rid of property taxes and I am excited to support incremental bills and incremental progress along the way.”