Speaking behind a podium emblazoned with the words “Building a Stronger Texas,” Governor Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address Sunday night.
During his speech, Abbott announced seven emergency items: property tax relief, water infrastructure, teacher pay raises, expanding career training, school choice, bail reform, and the creation of the Texas Cyber Command.
By designating these subjects as emergency items, the Legislature may now pass bills related to these items. Under the Texas Constitution, the Legislature generally cannot pass bills during the first 60 days of the legislative session unless the bill is related to an emergency item.
Abbott called for at least $10 million in property tax relief this session, building on the $18 billion in property tax relief that was passed in a special session of the Legislature in 2023. The Governor was also critical of local governments, such as Harris County, that used loopholes in the law to hike property taxes. Abbott also called for these loopholes to be banned, in addition to requiring two-thirds voter approval of property tax increases.
“I want at least $10 billion in new property tax relief. But that will only work if local authorities cannot use loopholes to jack up your property taxes like Harris County did. They increased property taxes more than 10% last year. Loopholes that increase your property taxes must be banned. No taxing entity should be able to raise your property taxes without a two-thirds approval by voters. No approval, no new taxes,” said Abbott
Abbott was expected to designate school choice, an issue on which he has been particularly vocal in his support over the last several years, as an emergency item.
“Government-mandated schools cannot meet the unique needs of every student. But Texas can provide families with choices to meet those needs. The majority of Texans support school choice. More than 30 states already have a form of school choice. We will continue to fully fund public schools and raise teacher pay, while also giving parents the choice they deserve,” remarked Abbott, who also applauded the work of State Senator Brandon Creighton and State Representative Brad Buckley on the issue.
Creighton, who serves as Chairman of the Education Committee in the State Senate, is the author of SB 2—the Senate’s priority school choice bill. Buckley served as chairman of the public education committee in the Texas House during the last legislative session.
SB 2 passed out of the Senate Education Committee by a 9-2 vote last week and is expected to come to the Senate floor for a vote later this week.
In addition to the emergency items, Abbott also expressed support for making housing more affordable, adding more power generation including nuclear power, spending $500 million for school security, banning DEI in public schools, public universities, and “any entity that receives taxpayer dollars,” stronger laws to remove squatters from private property, increased funding for firefighters, “prohibiting hostile foreign nations and their agents from buying Texas land,” election integrity initiatives, and requiring state agencies and local governments to cooperate with the Trump administration’s efforts on illegal immigration.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows expressed support for the issues Abbott highlighted in the State of the State address.
“This session, the Texas House is committed to delivering conservative, common-sense solutions to the state’s most pressing issues—issues on which Governor Abbott, the House and Senate are clearly largely aligned,” said Speaker Burrows. “Tonight’s address reinforced the priorities that will demand lawmakers’ attention this session, including strengthening education through school choice and school finance investments, securing our water future, improving government efficiency, cutting property taxes, and ensuring our students are prepared to meet the demands of a growing workforce, among others. I am especially eager for the Texas House to address the challenges small businesses face by reducing burdensome regulations and fees and ensuring entrepreneurs can succeed in our state. I appreciate Governor Abbott’s advocacy on these issues and look forward to working with members across both chambers to pass these items into law before the Legislature adjourns sine die.”
