[2] Unlike abatements based on a percentage of the property value, the structure of the program benefits primarily extremely large projects.
[6] In 2013, in House Bill 3390, the Texas legislature charged the Comptroller's office with reviewing the number of qualifying jobs created in future projects receiving tax limitations.
That report indicates that for projects commencing between 2006 and 2020, local school property tax revenue reductions due to limitation agreements are approximately $10.8 billion.
[8] Supporters of the program argue that Texas' high local property tax rates put the state at a disadvantage when competing for businesses making new investments.
They say that the program's petrochemical projects locate in Texas largely because of little regulation, proximity to rich oil and gas shale plays, and access to deep-water ports and pipeline networks.
[33] In 2013, the Chapter was amended to require the Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO) to review at least three major limitation agreements annually.
[35][36][37][38][39] In November, 2016, the Texas Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development issued an Interim Report to the 85th Legislature that was extremely critical of the Chapter 313 program.
[23] The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts started issuing biennially reports on limitation economic development projects in 2008.
[44] The Texas Legislative Budget Board estimated the local school district revenue losses to be approximately $10 billion between 2023 and the year 2049.
[45] In a March 20 House Ways and Means committee hearing, representatives of about 50 companies and 40 economic development groups testified or registered for the bill.
[51] After left-wing and right-wing opposition, as well as a number of news articles and editorials in state newspapers and magazines criticizing the program, no bill extending Chapter 313 passed the Texas Senate.