April 20, 2004 - May 17, 2004

Leadership

Governor: Rick Perry -  Vetoes

Lieutenant Governor: David Dewhurst

Speaker of the House: Tom Craddick 

Special Session Topics

 Proclamations

• Authorizing and allowing the placement and licensing of video lottery terminals at licensed racetracks and certain Indian reservations, providing that the revenue derived from such activity is dedicated to the Educational Excellence Fund, providing that the racetracks and tribes sign a contract with the state [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Closing loopholes in the franchise tax and dedicating the revenue from closing the loopholes to the Educational Excellence Fund and for school property tax relief for taxpayers [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Creating an Educational Excellence Fund to provide incentive funding, funding to maintain and enhance equity, and greater funding to address the needs of students with limited English proficiency [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Education reforms and property tax reduction proposals that benefit the school children and property tax payers of Texas [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Privatizing the collection of delinquent taxes [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing a cap on the growth in the appraisal values of homesteads for property tax purposes [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing a cap that is indexed to population and inflation on all property tax revenues received by local governments [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing for a reasonable tax and fees on certain adult entertainment venues [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing for an acceleration in the collection of tax revenues [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing for an increase in cigarette and tobacco product taxes and fees dedicating the revenue derived from the increase to the Educational Excellence Fund and for school property tax relief for taxpayers [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing for modifications to the recapture provisions of the school finance system, including but not limited to a constitutional amendment that links residential and non-residential tax rates at a lower level than provided by current law, providing for local enrichment [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing for performance based incentives to schools that attain higher levels of achievement [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Providing reform of the property tax appraisal process, including having elected officials approve certification rolls, and requiring mandatory sales price disclosure of real property [Thu Apr 15, 2004]
• Reducing fraud in the sale of automobiles [Thu Apr 15, 2004]

Journals

The House Journal and Senate Journal for the 78th 4th Called Session are available online.

Rules
House Rules (78th R.S.)
Senate Rules (78th R.S.)