Earlier today Gov. Greg Abbott delivered the State of the State address outlining his agenda for the 85th Session and highlighting his four emergency items: reforming Child Protective Services, banning sanctuary cities, implementing meaningful ethics reforms and passing a resolution calling for a Convention of States.
Other legislative priorities Abbott laid out in his speech and in his highlight video include:
prevent child deaths; secure our border; increase penalties for criminals who commit crimes against law enforcement officers; continue to invest in early education, higher education and expand school choice in Texas; and cutting taxes & regulations on businesses and reducing property taxes.
Abbott also stated during his State of the State that in order to cut spending to stay within the budget, he was imposing a hiring freeze on state agencies until the end of August which will free up approximately $200 million in the budget. He further stated his confidence that lawmakers can balance the budget for the next biennium without “looting the Rainy Day Fund,” also referred to as the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF).
There were other Items not declared as emergency or in highlights video that Abbott also discussed such as: legislation that addresses inappropriate teacher student relationships, legislation that criminalizes the sale or donation of fetal remains, advancing adoption services, fully fund the Enterprise Fund, and legislation that limits abusive hail-storm litigation.
Below is a list of Abbott’s legislative priorities provided in his State of the State, with links to advocates responses if available, and his emergency items. The designation is critical since the legislature is prohibited from passing bills in the first 60 days of the session unless it is an item the governor has declared as an emergency*.
Emergency Items*
- Reforming CPS
- Banning sanctuary cities
- Ethics reforms
- A resolution calling for a Convention of States
Spotlight on Legislative Priorities
- Prevent child deaths
- Secure the border
- Increase penalties for criminals who commit crimes against law enforcement officers
- Continue to invest in early education and higher education
- Expand school choice in Texas
- Cutting taxes & regulations on businesses and Reducing property taxes
- Fund Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI)
- Legisation addressing inappropriate teacher student relationships
- Legislation that criminalizes the sale or donation of fetal remains
- Advancing adoption services
- Fully fund the Enterprise Fund
- Legislation that limits abusive hail-storm litigation