Legislative Services

Governor, Lieutenant Governor Outline Property Tax Plans

Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both want to lower your property taxes. Abbott has laid out a plan to eliminate all school property taxes, while Patrick wants to build on the successive property tax exemptions passed by each of the past three Legislatures. Read more about their proposals here.

Candidate Slate Set for March Primary

With the Dec. 8 filing deadline now passed, the field for the March 3 primary elections is set. We won’t know until after November’s general election who will fill the chairs in the Texas House and Senate, but we know for certain who’s not returning.

The House will see at least a 14% turnover, with 21 incumbents declining to file for reelection. In the Senate, a 16% turnover is assured. Sens. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury), Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) and Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) have already departed. Birdwell was appointed as an assistant U.S. secretary of defense, Creighton was named chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and Hancock was appointed interim Comptroller.

The following incumbents are not seeking reelection:

Texas House of Representatives

• Alma Allen (D-Houston), House District 131
• Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), HD 9
• Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park), HD 128
• Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake), HD 98
• David Cook (R-Mansfield), HD 96
• Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin), HD 47
• Bobby Guerra (D-Mission), HD 41
• Sam Harless (R-Spring), HD 126
• Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin), HD 49
• Stan Lambert (R-Abilene), HD 71
• Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio), HD 125
• Jon Lujan (D-San Antonio), HD 118
• Dennis Paul (R-Houston), HD 129
• Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), HD 21
• Jon Rosenthal (D-Houston), HD 135
• Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth), HD 93
• James Talarico (D-Austin), HD 50
• Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington), HD 94
• Steve Toth (R-Conroe), HD 15
• Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston), HD 1

Texas Senate

• Creighton, Senate District 4
• Birdwell, SD 22
• Hancock, SD 9
• Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), SD 3
• Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), SD 11

In addition, Sens. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin), Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) are seeking higher office. Huffman and Johnson are running to succeed Ken Paxton as Attorney General, while Eckhardt withdrew her bid to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Michael McMcaul to instead enter the crowded race for Comptroller. All three are running mid-term and are guaranteed to return to the Senate should their bids for higher office fall short.

Regional Councils, Comptroller’s Office Partner on Broadband Expansion

The Texas Association of Regional Councils and Texas Broadband Development Office are working together to promote and coordinate the distribution of $8.75 million from the Broadband Infrastructure Fund. The funding will support dedicated broadband staff at councils of government. The application deadline is Jan. 16. Read more here.

Flood Warning Siren Grants on Accelerated Timeline

The Texas Water Development Board is working to implement Senate Bill 3 by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) and SB 5 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) as soon as practicable. SB 3 directs the board to assess the 30 counties issued disaster declarations during the July floods and to develop best practices and rules for the installation and operation of flood warning sirens. SB 5 allocates $50 million to fund the program. Learn more here.

Voters Approve All Constitutional Revisions

On Nov. 8, voters decided the fate of the 89th Legislature’s proposed changes to the Texas Constitution. All 17 propositions passed by comfortable margins. Six of the amendments alter Texas property tax law:

• Proposition 5 and its enabling legislation, House Bill 1399 by Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine), exempt animal feed held as inventory from property taxes.
• Proposition 7 and its enabling legislation, HB 2508 by Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie), extend a deceased veteran’s homestead exemption to their unremarried spouse if the veteran’s death is considered service related under federal law.
• Proposition 10 and its enabling legislation, SB 467 by Sen. Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso), provide a tax exemption on homestead improvements destroyed by fire.
• Proposition 13 and its enabling legislation, SB 2 by Sen. Bradon Creighton (R-Conroe), increase the homestead exemption for all homeowners to $140,000.
• Proposition 11 and its enabling legislation, SB 23 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), increase the additional exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners to $60,000.
• Proposition 17 and its enabling legislation, HB 247 by Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City), exempt border security infrastructure from homestead property taxes in counties that border Mexico.

Go here to read more about these and other approved amendments.

Special Session Addendum to Legislative Analysis Report Available

After each legislative session, TAC’s Legislative Services team reviews enacted legislation for its impact on county government. The selected legislation is then summarized, organized by subject and published in the biennial Legislative Analysis Report.

The 2025 report is available in a searchable, online format or in print using this online order form. The online edition has been updated with a special session addendum beginning on page 58.

Legislative Directory Available

The Texas Association of Counties’ 2025-26 Legislative Directory remains available to order. The directory includes contact information for lawmakers, committees, county official associations and TAC’s Legislative Services team.

Order free your copies here.

Month in Review is a collaborative column from TAC Legislative Services.