AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 1, Property Tax Relief, by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston:

“I have been fighting against increasing property taxes since long before I was Lt. Governor and I am proud the Texas Senate moved to pass additional relief today. This bill guarantees $2 billion in property tax relief, and that amount could rise to a total of $4 billion for the current biennium if our surplus revenues grow.

“Senate Bill 1 follows the clear and simple principle that as Texas’ economy grows, and the state receives surplus revenues, a portion must first be returned to taxpayers because it’s their money. This signifies a quantum shift in the way we think about spending our surplus dollars. Texas homeowners must receive tax relief before we commit to any new spending. I thank Sen. Bettencourt for his continued leadership on this critical issue.”