Overview
- Abbott unveiled a plan requiring two-thirds voter approval for local property tax increases, allowing rollback elections with petitions from 15% of registered voters, moving to five-year appraisal cycles, and capping appraisal growth at 3% for all properties.
- He proposed putting a constitutional amendment before voters to eliminate school district property taxes, the main local funding source for public schools.
- The bid to end school property taxes would first need a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to reach the ballot, creating a significant procedural hurdle.
- Abbott emphasized border security in his launch, highlighting Operation Lone Star and praising President Donald Trump’s approach at the U.S.–Mexico border.
- Entering the race with roughly $87–90 million on hand, Abbott said he will invest heavily to try to flip Harris County, as Democrats including Gina Hinojosa, Andrew White, and Bobby Cole mount challenges.