Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his 2023 State of the State address this past Thursday evening in San Marcos, during which time he updated Texans on his priorities for the 88th legislative session.
Abbott focused on seven emergency issues that included reducing property taxes, ending COVID-19 restrictions forever in the state, school safety, educational freedom, specifically for parents’ rights, ending the “revolving door bail”, securing the U.S.-Mexico border, and fighting the fentanyl crisis.
Concerning property taxes, Abbott said property taxes are “suffocating Texans.”
In order to help Texans pay less in property taxes, Abbott said he is working with State Sen. Joan Huffman and State Rep. Greg Bonnen to use “$15 billion to cut property taxes” to provide lasting property tax relief and return the money back to residents.
Addressing the COVID-19 restrictions, Abbott said that one of his priorities is removing COVID-19 restrictions in Texas forever to “prohibit any government from imposing COVID mask mandates, COVID vaccine mandates and from closing any business or school because of COVID.”
Additionally, he said after mentioning closing schools due to COVID-19, that public schools play an essential role in the State of Texas and that curriculum needs to be reformed.
“Parents deserve access to curriculum, school libraries and what their children are taught. We will do that with our Parental Bill of Rights,” Abbott said. “Parents also deserve education freedom. Without it, some parents are hindered in helping their child succeed. That must change this year.”
Abbott also said that school safety is a top priority, and he has created the Chief of School Safety position to mandate compliance with new safety standards that will be established.
Abbott went on to discuss the “revolving door bail practice” as something that “is literally killing people.” Abbott’s goal with the emergency item is to end revolving door bail this legislative session.
“In just two years, more than 100 people were murdered in Houston by criminals who were let out on multiple felony bonds,” Abbott said. “This session, we must shut and lock that revolving door by passing laws that keep dangerous criminals behind bars and hold accountable judges who let them out.”
Although improving the Texas power grid was not an emergency item in Abbott’s address, he did explain that the State will further improve the grid because the influx of new residents to Texas is not going to slow down. Abbott stated that 14 bipartisan laws have already been passed to strengthen the grid.
“Texas is the energy capital of the world, where we will strengthen our electric grid to power us for generations to come,” Abbott said.
Earlier, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced a list of 30 bills that he has designated as his own legislative priorities.