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Here are five of Community Impact’s most-read CI Texas stories from this year and the latest updates on these trending topics.
1. Texas Senate passes bill that would nearly double property tax exemption for seniors, people with disabilities
Texas senators approved a bill April 23 that they said would save seniors and people with disabilities about $950 on their annual property tax bills.
On Nov. 4, Texas voters approved Proposition 11, a constitutional amendment that raised the stackable property tax exemption for homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability from $10,000 to $60,000. Eligible homeowners were set to receive a $200,000 exemption on this year's property tax bill, Community Impact reported.
Learn more about the constitutional amendment election here.
2. Texas House bill would make it easier to remove students from the classroom
A Texas House committee heard hours of testimony March 18 on legislation that would overhaul the state’s school discipline policies and make it easier for schools to suspend younger students.
Supporters of House Bill 6 said the proposal would improve working conditions for teachers and make classrooms safer. Opponents argued it would harm Texas’ youngest students, including those with disabilities.
Read the full March 24 story here.
State lawmakers approved HB 6 in late May and it became law June 20, Community Impact reported. The law gives public school teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others, although schools are required to provide documentation explaining their decision if they send students in kindergarten through third grade home for behavioral issues.
3. What to know about the 17 state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot
Texas voters had the opportunity to decide on 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution during the Nov. 4 election. The propositions, which were adopted by state lawmakers this spring, included measures aimed at reducing property taxes, funding water supply projects and creating a state dementia research institute.
Read the full Sept. 22 story here.
Nearly 3 million Texans voted in the Nov. 4 election, breaking a record for statewide voter turnout in constitutional amendment elections, which take place every two years in Texas. Voters approved all 17 amendments, Community Impact reported.
Learn about the results of the constitutional amendment election here.
4. Texas House bill would prohibit cellphone use in K-12 schools
State Rep. Caroline Fairly, R-Amarillo, proposed banning cellphones and other electronic devices in all Texas public schools. Fairly said prohibiting students from using cellphones on K-12 campuses would help improve academic outcomes, students’ mental health and classroom management.
Under House Bill 1481, all public and charter school students in Texas are prohibited from using cellphones, smartwatches and other personal communication devices on campus throughout the school day.
During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers suggested that districts could purchase pouches to store students’ devices during the school day or ask students to leave devices in their lockers or backpacks. Texas’ 2026-27 budget includes $20 million in grants to help districts implement the new law, Community Impact reported.
Learn more about the new law here.
5. Texas families can now access 2022-23 A-F school accountability ratings after multiyear legal battle
On April 24, nearly two years after they were due, the Texas Education Agency released public school accountability ratings for the 2022-23 school year. This is the first time since 2019 that schools have received complete ratings, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and two lawsuits.
Nearly 11% of school districts received an A rating for the 2022-23 school year. Forty percent of districts earned a B, while about 32% scored a C, 14% received a D and about 3% received an F, according to the TEA.
Read the full April 24 story here.
The TEA released public school accountability ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years on Aug. 15, wrapping up a legal battle that began nearly two years prior. Across the state, most school districts and campuses maintained or improved their A-F ratings between the 2023-24 to 2024-25 school years, Community Impact reported.
Learn more about the latest A-F ratings here.
Find more Texas Legislature coverage here, and read State Reporter Hannah Norton’s latest articles here.
