Priority legislation to address the state's affordability crisis passed the Texas Senate and is now headed for the state house. Senate Bill 4, which carves out a $140,000 homestead exemption, was approved unanimously on Thursday.

If the Legislature approves SB 4, Texas voters would have to approve the amendment to the state Constitution to make the tax cut permanent.

The Texas Senate moved swiftly this week to advance property tax relief, one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items this session. On Thursday, the chamber voted unanimously to increase the state’s homestead exemption on school district taxes from $100,