Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) outlined his ‘Emergency Items’ or legislative priorities in his State of the State Address on February 2, 2025. This address serves as a roadmap for his policy agenda. His specific items are listed below:
Make the one-time largest investment in water in Texas history, as well as dedicate $1 billion a year for 10 years to tap into new water supplies and repair existing pipes to save billions of gallons of water each year
Invest in new water supply strategies that develop resources like desalination and move water from areas of abundance to areas of need
Invest in existing programs to ensure rural communities throughout Texas have the necessary resources to maintain existing water supply systems
Create a long-term dedicated funding stream to invest in critical water infrastructure for future generations of Texans to have a reliable water supply
Bill Number
Author
Last Status
–
–
–
Raise Teacher Pay
Increase teacher salaries through a direct appropriation in teacher pay and other compensation strategies
Invest $750 million in 2026-2027 to expand the Teacher Incentive Allotment, bringing more teachers into the merit pay program sooner and increasing merit pay amounts overall
Waive fees for certification in high-need areas like special education and bilingual education
Help mitigate costs for districts that hire retired teachers
Invest in high-quality teacher preparation pathways, including Teacher Residencies, Apprenticeships, and Grow Your Own Programs
Increase the Mentor Program Allotment and develop a statewide mentor teacher training
Fund a statewide marketing campaign to recruit more teachers to the profession through high-quality pathways
Collect data regarding teacher retention and recruitment, including the classifications, grade levels, subject areas, duration, and other relevant data relating to vacancies in teaching positions and create a job board to address vacancies.
Expand high-demand career training programs by increasing funding for the Jobs and Education for Texans grant program, Pathways in Technology Early College high schools, dual credit, and other career education allotments
Increase funding for the Rural Pathways Excellence Partnership program to support rural districts in expanding career training options for students and addressing regional workforce needs
Provide career and technical education funding for students enrolled in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs
Improve career advising and provide funding for career readiness assessments to ensure students are recommended courses best aligned with their career goals
Invest in strategies to ensure students enter high school proficient in math and prepared to excel in career-aligned courses
Bill Number
Author
Last Status
–
–
–
School Choice
Establish an Education Savings Account program with universal eligibility for all Texas schoolchildren and appropriate $1 billion for the program to parents to choose the best education for their child
Ensure participation is entirely voluntary for families and schools
Increase public school choice opportunities by increasing funding for open-enrollment charter school facilities, expanding virtual education options, and improving access to inter- and intra-district transfer
Promote cybersecurity awareness, professional training, and other workforce-oriented measures
Prepare for cyberattacks through various exercises, pre-attack coordination and planning, and proactive collaboration with critical infrastructure partners
Defend against, respond effectively to, and mitigate against the effects of cyberattacks when they occur, working across the state and with relevant partners
Provide subject matter expertise, forensic analysis, and other support to conduct post-attack investigations and recovery efforts
