Warning: Boring Legislative Update

HB3, the controversial Education Funding Bill, has passed a second vote in the House by a margin of one vote; 73 to 72, though apparently there were a few shenanigans surrounding last night's count and verification.

Some of the notable aspects of this bill are:

The state sales tax could increase from 6.25 percent to 7.25 percent which would be the highest sales tax rate in the nation. -- Remember that local taxing agencies can add two percent on top of the state tax as is the case in Austin for example.

Car sales would be subject to an even higher 7.35 percent sales tax rate.

An extra dollar tax on cigarette packs.

The school property tax rate (would lower) from $1.50 per $100 of assessed value to $1.23 then to $1.12

If HB3 passes today's third reading, it is off to the Senate for ratification. Just think, we are only one vote and one chamber of government away from having the highest state sales tax in the country. Assuming HB3 does make it through the Senate, it should (if nothing else) secure our status as the Lone Star State seeing as no one will be able to afford the sales tax on any more stars.