Posted @ Wednesday, April 17, 2013

In the past few weeks, many homeowners received an appraisal notice of their property for tax purposes.  While most homeowners are willing to pay their fair share in order to maintain our local schools, roads, and infrastructure, folks want to ensure that the appraisal district has assessed their property value fairly.  You will have received an appraisal notice if you are a new owner of the property or if your appraisal has been increased by $1000 or more.  If you feel the appraisal is inaccurate, there is an appeals process to make sure that your property has been fairly evaluated. In order to start the process, simply follow the directions included with your appraisal.  It is important to note that the deadline for appeals is May 31st. You can find more information on the appeals process on the Bexar County Appraisal District's website www.bcad.org. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 306 1749 home 14 3 2147 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false ...

Posted @ Sunday, April 14, 2013

When the City of San Antonio asked me to carry legislation to expand contiguous parkland in HemisFair Park, I agreed knowing that this legislation would lead to improved urban living in the core of downtown. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 270 1542 home 12 3 1893 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} I was eager to help advance ...

Posted @ Wednesday, March 27, 2013

 Today State Representative Mike Villarreal passed an amendment to House Bill 5 to limit local benchmark tests in Texas schools.

Posted @ Wednesday, March 13, 2013

 On the last day state legislators are permitted to file bills, Representative Mike Villarreal filed legislation on Medicaid expansion, teacher quality, and other key issues.

Posted @ Wednesday, March 13, 2013

In the wake of the state Comptroller's Tax Exemption and Tax Incidence report, Rep. Mike Villarreal has filed HJR 92 and HB 1556 to place a 10 year limit on all future tax breaks and establish a Select Commission on Periodic Tax Preference Review to analyze all tax breaks currently in state law. 

Posted @ Wednesday, March 13, 2013

 State Representative Mike Villarreal

Texas House of Representatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                

March 6, 2013

Contact: Peter Clark

Phone: 512-463-0532

Email: peter.clark@house.state.tx.us

Austin - Today Senate Business and Commerce Committee Chairman John Carona and House Investments and Financial Services Committee Chairman Mike Villarreal filed identical legislation, SB 1247 and HB 2706, to address the need for payday and auto title lending regulatory reform in Texas.  Provisions in this legislation will ensure that the size of a loan corresponds to a customer’s income or vehicle value, will limit the number of times consumers may refinance a loan, and will mandate extended payment plan provisions.

The Chairmen released the following joint statement regarding the legislation:

“This legislation offers a balanced approach to regulating payday and auto title loans. These bills will provide uniformity throughout the state, maintain Texans’ access to credit, and take a significant step forward in protecting consumers from an irreversible cycle of debt.”

Posted @ Thursday, February 28, 2013

Today Rep. Mike Villarreal filed legislation to expand park land in HemisFair Park, bringing San Antonio closer to enjoying a world-reknown downtown park.

Posted @ Thursday, February 21, 2013

 State Representative Mike Villarreal

Texas House of Representatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                

February 21, 2013

Contact: Peter Clark                                 

Phone: 512-463-0532 (o), 512-417-9262 (c)

Email: peter.clark@house.state.tx.us

Austin - Tuesday the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced plans to crack down on suspicious tutoring companies currently providing services to students in low-performing schools. Representative Mike Villarreal, who has already filed legislation regarding these tutoring services, praised TEA's plans and promised legislative action.

"TEA has taken a step in the right direction by making it clear that it will pursue fraudulent after-school tutoring companies," said Rep. Villarreal, a member of the House Public Education Committee. "We need to steer our limited tutoring dollars towards the providers that are more focused on helping students than helping their own bottom line."

The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires school districts to pay for tutoring services, known as Supplemental Educational Services (SES), for students at low-performing campuses. TEA maintains a list of approved service providers but parents -- who are often the target of slick marketing campaigns -- ultimately select the tutoring program for their children.

Earlier this month, the San Antonio Independent School District announced that it was investigating five after-school tutoring companies suspected of defrauding the district of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This was only one of several allegations throughout the state that tutoring services were not following federal guidelines or were defrauding school districts.

In January, Rep. Villarreal filed HB 753, which will require TEA to provide parents with additional information to help them choose an effective SES provider. Rep. Villarreal is currently working to strengthen the legislation to ensure parents know which tutoring programs have a proven track record of success.

In its announcement, TEA stated it would remove unscrupulous companies from its list of approved providers, and if necessary notify the federal government and District Attorney offices for further action.

Posted @ Tuesday, February 05, 2013

 Rep. Mike Villarreal urges state legislators to adhere to state District Judge Dietz's ruling and adequately fund public schools.

Posted @ Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 Join Rep. Mike Villarreal on Friday, February 8th for a special legislative briefing and discussion of the issues facing public schools in Texas.

Save Texas Schools Legislative Briefing

Friday, February 8th

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Northside ISD Activity Center

7001 Culebra Road

San Antonio, TX

From Save Texas Schools:

"In 2011, Texas public schools lost $5.4 billion in funding from the state. Since 2009, approx. 320,000 new students have come into Texas schools with NO NEW STATE FUNDING. The result? A 25% drop in funding per child since 2000. Combined with escalating testing demands, public schools are at a breaking point.

JOIN US for an open discussion of the decisions facing the 2013 legislature around education funding and high-stakes testing, as we test the commitment of our legislature to the future of Texas children.

Speakers, including State Rep. Mike Villarreal, parents and students will be followed by a panel of education leaders taking questions from the audience, as well as discussion time for action. 

Registration is FREE (suggested $5 donation). Please register all group members in advance if possible."

Posted @ Wednesday, January 30, 2013

 In this first volume of Mike's Mic, Rep. Mike Villarreal gives a tour of the new office and outlines the top legislative priorities for the 83rd session of the Texas House.

Posted @ Tuesday, January 22, 2013

 Rep. Villarreal filed new legislation, HB 596, to shift the state away from the "high stakes" nature of Texas's testing regime.

Posted @ Monday, January 14, 2013

 Representative Mike Villarreal passed four amendments to the House Rules to improve transparency and citizen participation during the 2013 legislative session.

Posted @ Monday, January 14, 2013

 Representative Mike Villarreal urges the legislature to use the state's recently disclosed revenue increases to start undoing the harmful cuts to public education.

Posted @ Monday, January 07, 2013

State Representative Mike Villarreal Texas House of Representatives   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 January 7, 2013 Contact: peter.clark@house.state.tx.us   Comptroller Reports State Has Revenue to Undo Education Cuts  Revenue Estimate Also Shows 2011 Cuts Unnecessary Austin - Following today's release of the state Comptroller's Biennial Revenue Estimate(BRE) for the next two years, Representative Mike Villarreal said the BRE showed the historic 2011 cuts to education were unnecessary and called on the legislature to use the state's newly reported revenue to start reversing those cuts in the next budget.   "The report is further proof the legislature didn't have to cut education, push schools to crowd more kids into full classrooms, and make college more expensive," said Rep. Villarrea ...