Governor Abbott pushes for radical changes in Texas property tax policies

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott convened a special session starting July 21, 2025, to tackle unresolved issues from the regular legislative session, focusing primarily on property tax reforms and government spending limitations. Amid ongoing debates about local governments' ability to hire contract lobbyists and the necessity for stricter regulations on hemp products, lawmakers are eager to push reforms aimed at reducing the high property tax burden on Texans. Many commentators argue that excessive local spending has contributed to rising property tax bills, leading proponents of reform to insist on legislation that limits this growth. During the previous regular session concluded in early June 2025, the Texas Legislature enacted significant conservative measures, including the state's first school choice program. Despite passing a bill aimed at banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, this measure failed in the House, prompting Abbott to reintroduce it in the special session agenda. Local governments in Texas reportedly spent nearly $100 million on lobbyists in 2023 alone, further intensifying calls for reform. Lawmakers proposed several measures during this session, including limiting increases in property tax bills, accelerating the ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, and implementing stricter regulations over the hemp industry. Advocates for stricter regulations argue that current hemp products are potentially harmful, particularly to youth. In contrast, opponents of the ban claim that it would adversely affect businesses and consumers who rely on hemp products as alternatives to alcohol or opioids. The state's economic strategy emphasizes how changes in property tax legislation could mitigate burdens on taxpayers while continuing to foster innovation and job creation. Despite previous legislative efforts to cap local government spending at a rollback rate of 3.5 percent annually, many local entities have managed to increase spending substantially beyond this threshold. The proposed changes aim to establish more effective taxpayer safeguards to prevent ballooning government budgets and unregulated increases in property tax bills. As these debates unfold, the outcome of the special session could have profound implications on Texas's conservative policies and serve as a national model for similar discussions nationwide.