AUSTIN — The three most powerful players in state government declared their unified support Thursday for an aggressive plan to place a 2.5-percent limit on property tax hikes enacted by school districts, cities and counties.

AUSTIN — In the opening days of the 2019 legislative session, the state’s three most powerful men sat shoulder to to shoulder, promoting unity and promising this year they’d win where others have failed for decades.

AUSTIN — Mary Nethery used to complain when the yearly property tax bill hit $5,000 for her 1,900-square-foot home in San Antonio. Now it’s pushing $9,000. In recent years, Nethery and other homeowners have shouldered an increasing burden for funding public schools in Texas, where property taxes climbed to the sixth-highest in the nation.

After 15 months of working on property tax reform with a group of more than 60 people, state Rep. Hugh Shine has filed six bills. The Temple Republican filed the pieces of legislation late last week. The bills focus on reforming property taxes and make the process more transparent. The Legislature convenes Jan. 8.

Local governments have not been properly notifying homeowners of their expected property tax increases since 1978, disregarding a requirement of the Texas Constitution, an academic researcher told lawmakers on Wednesday.