Paul Bettencourt

Senator Paul Bettencourt, appointed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as Chairman to the Senate Committee on Local Government, is widely known across Texas for his 25 years of leadership in fiscal responsibility and property tax reform. He began his career in public service from 1998–2008 as the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, where for ten years, he applied his “Smart Government” philosophy to deliver measurable, customer service-driven results for taxpayers. Under his leadership, the Tax Office launched Texas’s first major online property tax payment system and became the first county office to offer online vehicle registration. His motto, “Get on-line, not in-line,” set a new standard for service in Texas local governments. Elected to the Texas Senate in 2014, Senator Bettencourt represents District 7, encompassing parts of Montgomery County, Western Harris County, West Houston, and the Villages. Since taking office, he has been recognized as one of the most effective and results-oriented legislators in the Texas Capitol. Early in his Senate career, he 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 (AFP). Beyond property tax reform, Senator Bettencourt’ compassionate conservative theme advances policies that expand opportunity across key sectors of the Texas economy while safeguarding communities and vulnerable populations. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution, Senator Bettencourt is President and CEO of Bettencourt Tax Advisors, LLC, a Houston-based firm employing more than forty professionals. His first job out of TAMU was representing and then working for Unimation, Inc., the first U.S. robotics manufacturer. He is also a 20-year radio and television personality in Houston.