Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveils a new property tax proposal Tuesday at the Capitol, outlining “Operation Double Nickel,” a plan that would let Texas homeowners begin claiming senior school-property tax breaks at age 55 instead of 65 while also increasing the portion of a home’s value that is exempt from school taxes.
The proposal is aimed at reducing annual tax bills for millions of Texans and would freeze school taxes for eligible homeowners once they reach the lower age threshold.
The plan adds a new twist to Texas’ ongoing debate over long-term property tax reform. Patrick’s approach focuses on expanding existing exemptions and delivering targeted relief to older homeowners by lowering the age for tax freezes and deductions. The proposal arrives as Gov. Greg Abbott continues pushing a competing strategy that calls for eliminating school-property taxes altogether — a major structural shift that would require replacing the state’s primary source of local school funding.
Both leaders have signaled that property tax relief will remain a top issue when lawmakers return to Austin, setting the stage for a high-profile policy clash over how to deliver the most meaningful and sustainable benefits to Texas homeowners.