By Sahar Chmais
District 45 Representative Erin Zwiener has filed six additional legislation pieces which would affect a spectrum of residents.
In the new bills, Zwiener offers an alternative writing assessment for Texas students, an incentive for nature-based infrastructure projects and a request to allow homeowners to pay for their property taxes quarterly instead of annually. The proposed bills will also give high-growth counties more control over the siting of rock quarries and other aggregate production operations and build on an existing dark skies Hotel Occupancy Tax bill.
“When I taught writing, I saw firsthand how a single standardized writing exam can cause students to lose their confidence and retreat as writers,” Zwiener said. “When testing works against its fundamental goals to help students succeed, we must provide alternatives that both offer a better measure of a student’s growth and avoid stunting their learning. That’s what HB 2344 does by offering a portfolio assessment method instead of a standardized test.”
HB 2344, Writing Portfolios, would allow school districts to implement a writing portfolio to fulfill the writing component of required state reading assessments. Standardized writing assessments grade students based on a formula. Teaching this formula to students often leads them to become less creative and more uncertain in their writing abilities, according to Zwiener. Writing portfolios grade students on their body of work and provide a more thorough reflection of their skills, according to the bill.
HB 2342, Quarterly Payments for Property Taxes, would allow homeowners to make quarterly payments of their property taxes in equal installments without incurring interest or penalties. This would provide relief for homeowners who have experienced financial hardship and cannot afford the lump-sum annual payment. Individuals 65 and older and disabled veterans are currently eligible to pay property taxes using these quarterly payments without penalty -- this bill expands the program to all Texas homeowners.
HB 2350, Nature-Based Infrastructure, would incentivize nature-based infrastructure projects through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Communities seeking loans for wastewater system upgrades can access extra funds for projects such as rain gardens, wetlands, and other projects that create permeable surfaces, allowing rainwater to percolate into aquifers rather than running off surfaces. The nature-based infrastructure project would be funded through a decrease in the interest rate on the overall project. Although nature-based infrastructure can help reduce the impact of flooding and increase groundwater supply, according to Zwiener, it has not been widely adopted throughout the state.
HB 2422, Siting Authority for Aggregate Production Operations (APOs), would give county commissioners in fast-growing counties the authority to regulate the location of new quarries and other incoming aggregate production operations. Many counties, such as Hays, struggle with rapid development, which leads to many APOs setting up their business near existing homes and planned developments, according to Zwiener. These operations include activities such as rock crushing and blasting that create noise and air quality concerns for nearby communities as well as heavy vehicle traffic on residential roads. In these fast growing areas, county commissioners need more authority over siting these high-impact operations.
HB 2433, Dark Skies Hotel Occupancy Tax, would build upon previous legislation that Zwiener previously passed by allowing all municipalities in Hays and Blanco counties with a hotel occupancy tax already in place to devote funds towards the preservation of dark skies. Night sky tourism is important for many communities in House District 45, and its preservation is critical for continued tourism, according to the bill.
HB 2345, Blanco County Hotel Occupancy Tax, would allow Blanco County to collect up to 7% in hotel occupancy taxes in areas that currently do not have a municipal hotel occupancy tax. This would equalize tax rates between unincorporated areas of the county and the City of Blanco and Johnson City, both of which currently have a hotel occupancy tax, and provide Blanco County with a revenue source for promoting tourism.
