The marquee proposal would increase the amount of a home’s value exemption from school taxes to $140,000 from $100,000.

Proposals to cut property taxes by raising the Texas homestead exemption to $140,000 cleared a key hurdle when a bipartisan committee voted unanimously

Read more A bill aimed at lowering property taxes unanimously passed a Texas Senate committee Tuesday, clearing the way for a vote before the full Senate. The Senate Local Government Committee voted 6-0 to approve Senate Bill 4,

A bipartisan committee voted unanimously to send to the full Senate legislation that would raise the state homestead exemption by $40,000.

In the latest of his many attempts to curb Texas' high property taxes, Republican Governor Greg Abbott wants to give the state's homeowners the power to weigh in on every hike. It's a move that critics warn could have a dramatic impact on the funding for public services in the Lone Star State.

Local officials, school advocates and tax policy experts said such a proposal could have dire impacts on basic services.