Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

Brakeyshia Samms

Senior Analyst

Brakeyshia Samms

For over a decade, Brakeyshia has produced engaging research and analyses for today’s tax policy debates. As a senior analyst on the Cross Cutting Research team, she writes and presents on local, state, and federal tax topics, and especially focuses on how these policies relate to racial equity. Her key role is to inform the public and support advocates and policymakers with analyses that help advance equitable tax policies, sound fiscal practices, and policy solutions that remedy historical injustices.  

Throughout her career she has authored essays for Tax Notes, The Huffington Post, The Dallas Morning News, The Austin American-Statesman, Human Rights, Bloomberg Tax, and Common Dreams. She’s presented to both houses of the Texas Legislature, Chicago City Council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate, The American Bar Association, The University of Texas at Austin, Duke University, The University of Missouri, and The US Department of State, among others. Her work has garnered the attention of the public, other researchers, and the media.

Previously, she was a senior associate on the Fiscal Federalism Initiative at Pew researching tax policies and public programs at the intersection of the federal-state fiscal relationship. Prior to Pew, she spent two years in Austin, TX, as a state policy fellow with Every Texan through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ post-graduate research fellowship program.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Texas at Tyler and a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University. She is a proud native of Carrollton, Texas.   

 brakeyshia at itep.org

Recent Publications

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Trump’s Last Tax Cuts Failed Americans Like Me. Let’s Not Repeat the Mistake.

June 5, 2025 • By Brakeyshia Samms

Now as more GOP tax cuts for the rich move through Congress, history is poised to repeat itself. The bill would disproportionately benefit the well-off — and harm the financial well-being of millions of working Americans, including Black women like me.

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Circuit Breakers Are a Better Option for Property Tax Relief

March 13, 2025 • By Brakeyshia Samms

To curb the impact of property taxes on working families, lawmakers should improve or implement a property tax circuit breaker program. The program works like this: when families are overloaded with their property taxes, the circuit breaker kicks in and helps alleviate the pressure these taxes put on family budgets.

More Publications by Brakeyshia Samms

Recent Media Mentions

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Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Homeowners Want Property Tax Relief. Other States May Offer a Solution

May 26, 2025 • By Brakeyshia Samms

"Families are overloaded with their property taxes," said Brakeyshia Samms, a senior analyst for the institute. "The circuit breaker kicks in like an electrical circuit breaker and helps alleviate the pressure that these taxes put on family budgets."

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The Week: America Doesn't Have a Wealth Tax. The Supreme Court Might Kill It Anyway.

November 29, 2023 • By Brakeyshia Samms

Remember the wealth tax? It was a centerpiece of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign, but the proposal — like her candidacy — didn’t end up going anywhere. But just because America doesn’t actually have a wealth tax doesn’t mean the Supreme Court can’t rule it out of bounds. It just…

More Media Mentions of Brakeyshia Samms