Senator Paul Bettencourt

Paul David Bettencourt was born on October 20, 1958, in Harris County, Texas, and is a businessman and politician based in Houston. He is a member of the Republican Party and currently serves in the Texas State Senate representing District 7, which encompasses parts of Montgomery County, Western Harris County, West Houston, and the Villages.

Bettencourt is widely recognized across Texas for his 25 years of leadership in fiscal responsibility and property tax reform. He is known for his "Smart Government" philosophy and has been called an "architect of tax relief" by Governor Greg Abbott. His religious affiliation is Catholic.

Education

Bettencourt earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, majoring in Industrial Distribution from the College of Engineering.

Political Experience

Early Career in Public Service

Before his Senate service, Bettencourt served as the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector from 1998 to 2008, a position responsible for collecting and dispersing property taxes and managing voter registration. During his decade in this role, he won reelection in 2000, 2004, and 2008. He gained recognition as the "Tax Man" for his efforts to cut property taxes and developed the first major county online property tax payment system and the first county tax office website with online vehicle registration in Texas.

Texas State Senate

Bettencourt was first elected to the Texas State Senate in 2014, succeeding Dan Patrick, who was elected Lieutenant Governor. He has served as a Senator since 2015 and is the President and CEO of Bettencourt Tax Advisors LLC.

Committee Positions and Leadership

He currently serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government. He also serves on the Senate Finance, Education, Criminal Justice, and State Affairs Committees. Previously, he was the longest-serving Chair of the Senate Republican Caucus, serving from 2016 to 2021, and served as Majority Leader from 2016 to 2023.

Legislative Achievements

Bettencourt has authored or sponsored 122 measures signed into law during the 89th Legislature alone, addressing housing affordability, property tax reform, and education. Notable legislation includes:

• *Senate Bill 2 *: The Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act, passed by a vote of 21-9, representing the first major property tax reform in nearly 40 years
• *Senate Bill 1111 *: Prohibited the use of private P.O. boxes for voter registration
• Senate Bill 38: Addressed the statewide squatting crisis to improve housing affordability
• Senate Bill 568: Expanded access to special education
• Senate Bill 569: Supported virtual learning
• House Bill 9: Eliminated the STAAR test
• Senate Bill 1365: Restored the A-F accountability system
• Senate Bill 7: Prevented educator misconduct
• Senate Bill 3: Created a statewide flood warning siren system in response to July 2025 flooding

Recognition

Early in his Senate career, Bettencourt was named "Most Valuable Freshman" and "Senate MVP" by Capitol Inside, "Bull of the Brazos" by Texas Monthly, and "Taxpayer Advocate of the Year" by Americans for Prosperity. He has earned recognition as one of the most effective and results-oriented legislators in the Texas Capitol.