Revealing his top priorities for the Texas Legislature, Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday he wants lawmakers to focus on subsidizing private school tuition, finding new sources of water, cutting property taxes, limiting bail for violent offenses and beefing up the state’s electric grid, school safety and cybersecurity systems.
On Sunday. Feb. 2, Abbott delivered his televised speech before a crowd of about 800 at Arnold Oil Supply, a family-owned Austin company.
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WATCH HEREThe speech aired on 15 Nexstar television stations serving 14 Texas media markets, including major cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin, and El Paso.
“Texas is the blueprint for the future of America,” Abbott said during his biennial State of the State address.
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SIGN UP Abbott laid out seven emergency items – bills he wants to see passed as soon as possible – for Texas lawmakers to consider as they begin the fourth week of their 140-day regular session.
"This legislative session brings new opportunities to enhance our economic position and safeguard the freedoms that make Texas great. Working together, we will continue to build a stronger Texas for generations to come."
Designating the bills as emergency items means lawmakers can pass them in the first 60 days of the legislative session, when the Texas Constitution limits action that can be taken.
Abbott also recommended that lawmakers spend some of the state’s nearly $24 billion surplus on property tax relief, water projects and infrastructure, teacher pay raises and school security.
Read more of this story at The Dallas Morning News.
