Governor Greg Abbott designated seven emergency items for the 88th Legislative Session during his State of the State address last night. This designation means lawmakers can take up this issue in the first 60 days of the session. Additional specifics of those items were provided in subsequent press releases from the Governor’s office and are highlighted below. Links to additional details are provided in the headings.
- Use $15 billion of the largest budget surplus in state history to cut property taxes
- Lower the school district M&O tax rates by increasing the tax rate compression, providing relief for ALL property taxpayers
- Provide relief to small businesses by increasing the business personal property tax exemption
- Require local government debt be passed by a two-thirds supermajority of the local governing body
- Require local bond issues not included on the November ballot be passed by a two-thirds supermajority of voters
- Prohibit Any COVID-19 government vaccine mandates
- Prohibit Any COVID-19 government mask mandates through a disaster declaration, ordinance, or other action
- Prohibit Any government from closing any business or school because of COVID-19
- The Governor will also work with the Texas Legislature to create safeguards and change how government responds to future pandemics, including requiring the legislature to convene if another pandemic is ever declared.
- Expand school choice options available through ESAs to all Texas students
- Amend the Texas Constitution to bolster a parent’s right as the primary decisionmaker in all matters involving their child
- Require schools to better inform parents of their rights Expand parent access to curriculum, school libraries, and what their children are taught
- Reform the grievance process to ensure parent concerns are addressed quickly and respectfully
- Allow parents to decide if their child should repeat a grade
- Strengthen consent requirements for health services
- Protect students from unnecessary personal data collection and ensure schools are not sharing or selling student data outside the Texas public education system
- Provide funding for every school campus to make necessary school safety improvements, including technology upgrades, hardening equipment, and expanded mental health resources
- Expand and enhance the capabilities of iWatchTexas in school districts
- Codify the intruder detection audit process and require facilities use those standards
- Require school campus maps be provided to local law enforcement to ensure they have the necessary resources to respond to a disaster
- Increase funds for TCHATT to ensure more Texas students are connected with the mental health services they need
- Use the newly created Chief of School Safety and Security to ensure compliance with all mandated school safety standards
- Propose a constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail for the most violent offenders
- Pass legislation to hold judges and district attorneys accountable or reckless decisions compromising the safety and security of Texans
- Secure another $4.6 billion to bolster border security efforts
- Pass legislation making it AT LEAST a ten-year mandatory minimum jail sentence for anyone caught smuggling in Texas
- Enhance the minimum penalty for operating stash houses to a third-degree felony
- Enhance criminal penalties for foreign terrorist organizations and increase intelligence operations against such organizations
- Increase penalties for smuggling and stash house operations when committed in a disaster area
- Classify fentanyl “overdoses” as poisonings
- Prosecute an individual for murder if they distribute fentanyl or drugs laced with fentanyl that kill someone
- Increase the supply of lifesaving NARCAN and make it more readily available to Texans exposed to fentanyl across the state