The Texas Senate on the first day of the Legislature’s second special session unanimously passed a tax bill last Wednesday that increases the homestead exemption and includes a pay hike for teachers, the Austin American-Statesmanreported. The first special session ended with the Senate and House unable to agree on how to provide property tax relief.The Senate bill provides a $2,000 pay increase for teachers in urban districts over the next two years, and a $6,000 hike for teachers in rural areas. It increases the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan are set ...