Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that 88 Republican incumbents and nominees for the Texas House have signed onto his sweeping five-point property tax reform agenda, a development his office says gives him enough support to pass the package when lawmakers reconvene in 2027.
The announcement marks an early victory for Abbott as he seeks to make property tax relief the centerpiece of the next legislative session. According to the governor’s office, the more important number is not 88, but 76 — the number of signatories considered either current incumbents or candidates likely to win their races this fall. Abbott’s team argues that figure represents a working Republican majority in the Texas House, giving the governor a realistic path toward enacting one of the most ambitious property tax overhauls in Texas history.
“Texans are one step closer to the biggest property tax overhaul in state history,” Abbott said.
“As of today, we secured enough support from Texas House Republicans and nominees to deliver lasting property tax relief for Texas homeowners. Working together next session, we will return power to taxpayers and end the cycle of local governments relentlessly hiking property taxes. Texans have demanded lasting relief for too long, and next session, we will deliver it,” Abbott continued.
The governor’s proposal, branded as the “Empowering Texas Taxpayers” plan, would significantly reshape how property taxes are approved, assessed, and limited across the state.
One of the most notable components would impose new spending limits on local governments. Under Abbott’s proposal, cities, counties, and other taxing entities would be restricted to annual spending growth equal to the lower of population growth plus inflation or 3.5%. Abbott has argued that while Texas already places limits on state government spending, local governments have continued expanding budgets in ways that drive up property tax bills.
Another pillar of the plan would tighten requirements for raising property taxes. Abbott wants any local property tax increase to require approval from two-thirds of voters before it could take effect. Supporters of the proposal say the change would give taxpayers more direct control over local spending decisions, while critics are expected to argue it could make it harder for local governments to fund infrastructure, public safety, and other services.
The proposal also includes a mechanism allowing residents to trigger rollback elections. If 15% of registered voters in a local jurisdiction signed a petition, voters could force an election aimed at reducing local tax rates. Abbott has framed the idea as a tool for taxpayers to challenge what he describes as excessive government spending growth.
The governor is also targeting the state’s appraisal system, which has become a frequent source of frustration for homeowners facing rapidly rising property values. Under the proposal, properties would only be appraised once every five years instead of annually. Abbott’s plan would also reduce the homestead appraisal cap from 10% to 3% per year and expand the cap beyond owner-occupied homes to include rental and commercial properties.
Perhaps the most far-reaching element of the proposal would allow voters to decide whether to eliminate school district property taxes on homeowners entirely through a constitutional amendment referendum. School district taxes currently make up the largest share of many Texans’ property tax bills, making the issue politically significant for both homeowners and lawmakers.
Abbott’s announcement comes as Republican primary runoffs conclude this month, a period during which candidates have been eager to secure the governor’s endorsement and political backing. By obtaining signed pledges before the next legislative session begins, Abbott appears to be building momentum and public accountability around the proposal well in advance of formal debate at the Capitol.
Property taxes have remained a dominant political issue in Texas despite lawmakers approving what Abbott has described as $51 billion in property tax relief during the last legislative session. While state leaders touted that package as historic, many homeowners continued to see tax bills rise due to increasing property appraisals and local government tax rates.
That disconnect has fueled continued pressure on state leaders to pursue additional reforms. Abbott has repeatedly argued that without structural changes to local spending and appraisal practices, temporary tax relief measures will continue to be offset by rising valuations and government spending growth.
The next regular session of the Texas Legislature is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2027. With public commitments from dozens of Republican House members already secured, Abbott is signaling that property tax reform will likely dominate the early weeks of the session and could become one of the defining political battles of the year.
Whether the proposal ultimately advances in its current form remains uncertain, particularly as local governments, school districts, and taxpayer groups weigh in on the potential fiscal and political impacts. But Abbott’s announcement makes clear that the governor intends to enter the next session with property tax reform at the top of the agenda.
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