Pearland ISD’s board of trustees approved a tax rate of $1.135 per $100 valuation of a home for fiscal year 2025-26 at its Sept. 9 meeting.

The rate is identical to last year’s, according to district documents.

What residents should know: This tax rate will result in a tax bill of over $3,070 for an average residence—about a $420 decrease compared to last year’s bill of nearly $3,500, according to district documents.

However, that decrease doesn’t account for how home values might have changed year over year. This rate is with an average residential market value of over $432,000. Last year’s average market value was about $427,000, according to district documents.

Pearland City Council voted 5-1 to approve the first reading of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget and tax rate at its Sept. 8 meeting. 

Why it matters: The city’s budget in terms of revenue is projected to increase from last year by 6.13%, while expenditures will increase by 2.43%, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.

Alvin ISD’s board of trustees approved a tax rate of $1.15 per $100 valuation of a home for fiscal year 2025-26 at its Sept. 9 meeting.

The overview: This tax rate of $1.15 per $100 valuation of a home is a decrease of $0.0223 per $100 valuation of a home compared to the FY 2024-25 rate, according to district documents.

What residents should know: This tax rate will result in a bill of over $2,550 in taxes due on an average residence, about a $415 decrease compared to last year’s bill of nearly $2,970, according to district documents.

However, that decrease doesn’t account for how home values might have changed year over year.

This rate is with an average residential market value of over $365,000. Last year’s average market value was about $370,700, according to district documents.
 

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a Sept. 10 executive order aimed at prohibiting hemp-derived THC products from being sold to minors, which he called “safety for kids, freedom for adults.” The order comes one week after a special legislative session ended without Abbott and state lawmakers agreeing on legislation to ban or restrict THC sales.

The details: Abbott’s order directs the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to “immediately begin the rulemaking process” on new THC regulations, including:

• Limiting THC sales to people 21 years and older
• Requiring THC retailers to check all customers’ IDs
• Expanding testing and labeling requirements for THC products
• Raising manufacturer and retailer licensing fees to cover costs of enforcing the new rules
• Enhancing monitoring by state and local law enforcement

When Texas students returned to school in August, some substantial changes awaited them.

The overview:

• House Bill 2 increases state funding for public schools by $8.4 billion.
• House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using cellphones and other personal communication devices throughout the school day.
• Senate Bill 12 requires parental consent for students to receive "medical, psychiatric and psychological treatment" on campus.
• Senate Bill 13 gives parents and school boards more oversight of library materials.
• House Bill 6 gives teachers more discretion to remove repeatedly disruptive or violent students from class.
• Senate Bill 10 requires most schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
• Senate Bill 11 allows districts to set aside time for students and staff to pray or read religious texts at school.
• Senate Bill 965 codifies school employees' rights to "engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty."