Texas Lawmakers Are Filing Property Tax Bills for 2027: What DFW Homeowners Should Watch

The next Texas legislative session does not start until January, but the first bills are already on file. Monday, November 9 was the first day lawmakers could submit proposals, and more than 1,160 bills were filed by mid-afternoon, according to The Texas Tribune.

Several of them deal with property taxes. If you own a home in Dallas-Fort Worth, or plan to buy one, here is a plain-language look at what was filed, what it would take to pass, and what you can do in the meantime.

Where things stand today

First, the rules that apply to your current bill have not changed. Texas voters approved a larger school district homestead exemption in November 2025. It now stands at $140,000 for all homeowners and $200,000 for owners who are 65 or older or who have a disability.

An exemption lowers the value your school district can tax. It does not take that amount off your bill, and it does not automatically apply to city, county or special district taxes.

Texas also limits how fast the taxable value of a homestead can rise. That limit, often called the appraisal cap, is 10% a year.

What was filed on day one

Here are the property tax proposals that drew the most attention this week, as reported by the Tribune:

• A lower appraisal cap. House Bill 563 by Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco would lower the homestead appraisal cap from 10% a year to 3%.
• Ending property taxes. House Bill 731 by Rep. Brian Harrison, who represents part of Ellis County, would abolish property taxes and create a joint committee to study how. The Tribune described it as a long shot. Harrison and Rep. Brent Money of Greenville also filed constitutional amendments with the same goal.
• Relief for renters. Rep. Salman Bhojani of Euless filed a proposal aimed at renters, who do not receive the direct relief that homeowners get through exemptions.

More will follow. Before the election, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had proposed raising the school homestead exemption to $180,000 for owners under 55 and $240,000 for those 55 and older, and lowering the age for the school tax freeze from 65 to 55. State leadership is changing in January, so it is not yet clear which of these ideas will move forward.

What it takes for a bill to become law

Filing a bill is the first step of many. A few things to keep in mind:

1. The session starts January 12, 2027. Lawmakers can keep filing bills through March 12. A regular session lasts 140 days.
2. Both chambers have to agree. Next year the House and Senate will be led by different parties, so any tax bill will need support from both sides to pass.
3. Big changes need voters. Raising the homestead exemption or ending a tax requires a constitutional amendment. That takes a two-thirds vote in each chamber and then approval by Texas voters.
4. Thousands of bills are filed. Most do not pass. A bill number is a proposal, not a promise.

Would a 3% appraisal cap lower your bill?

Not necessarily. The Tribune noted that tax policy experts across the political spectrum have warned that a tighter cap would not lower tax bills and could have side effects.

Here is the short version of why. Your bill is your taxable value multiplied by the tax rates your local governments set. A cap slows how fast your taxable value rises, but it does not control the rate. Caps can also shift more of the tax load toward newer buyers, whose values reset to market when a home sells.

That last point matters if you are shopping. The seller's tax bill is not a preview of yours. When you buy, the capped value goes away and the home is reassessed. We estimate taxes for our buyers from the likely new value, not the seller's old one.

What DFW homeowners can do now

None of these proposals affect the bill in your mailbox today. These steps do:

• Pay by January 31. Texas property tax bills for 2026 are due by the end of January. Dallas, Tarrant and Ellis counties all offer online payment, and some owners qualify for installment plans.
• Confirm your homestead exemption. Look up your property on your county appraisal district website and make sure the exemption is listed. Filing is free. If you bought in 2026 and have not applied, do it now.
• Turning 65? Apply for the over-65 exemption and school tax ceiling as soon as you qualify.
• Mark your calendar for spring. Appraisal notices usually arrive in April, and the protest deadline for most owners is May 15 or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later.

What buyers should take from this

Property taxes are a large part of a monthly payment in North Texas, often several hundred dollars. If you are buying in the next few months, plan around the rules that exist now. Any change from the 2027 session would likely need a statewide vote before it takes effect.

It also helps to compare total tax rates between cities and school districts, and to ask early whether a neighborhood has a MUD or PID. Two homes at the same price can carry very different tax bills.

We will keep following the session and share updates as bills move. If you would like a tax estimate on a home you are considering, or help checking your exemption, reach out to Blue Mountain Realty Group. Call or text Brando Villatoro at (214) 271-4733 or email Team@BlueMgroup.com.

Brando Villatoro, REALTOR®, Blue Mountain Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC. This post is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm deadlines and eligibility with your county appraisal district and tax office.