Rep. Dennis Bonnen offered SB 2, as substituted from House Ways and Means, as an amendment to SB 669 (Nelson/Zerwas – relating to protest or appealing certain ad valorem tax) when it came up on the House floor for debate today. Rep. Jonathan Stickland noted his concern with automatic rollbacks not being included in the House version of SB 2. Bonnen argued the House version has stronger language because it alerts taxpayers to start a conversation at “zero,” by encouraging tax payers to pay attention to each increase. SB 2, providing property tax relief, was one of the bills Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had targeted as one of his must pass bills during his press conference last Wednesday.

Ultimately the SB 2 amendment was adopted unanimously and now has tentative approval in the House when SB 699 passed to third reading as amended.