Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday morning that 88 Republican incumbents and nominees running for seats in the Texas House have signed a pledge supporting his five-point property tax reform plan. According to Abbott’s team, this number is sufficient to pass the legislation when the next legislative session begins.
However, a more significant figure, according to Abbott’s team, is 76: this represents the number of signatories who are incumbents or nominees deemed likely to win their races. They argue that reaching this threshold provides Abbott with a working majority in the Texas House, enabling him to advance what he is promoting as one of the largest property tax overhauls in the state.
“Texans are one step closer to the biggest property tax overhaul in state history,” Abbott told The Dallas Express.
“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.
What the Plan Would Do
Abbott’s “Empowering Texas Taxpayers” pledge outlines five key changes to how property taxes are assessed and approved across the Lone Star state.
- Spending limits on local governments. The plan would cap city, county, and other local government spending at the lesser of population growth plus inflation or 3.5% annually – a standard Abbott says Texas imposes on state spending but not on local entities.
- A two-thirds voter threshold for tax increases. Under current law, Abbott argues it is too easy for local governments to raise property taxes without meaningful public consent. His plan would require two-thirds voter approval before any local property tax increase could take effect.
- Voter-initiated rollback elections. If 15% of registered voters in a local jurisdiction sign a petition, the plan would allow them to force a rollback election to lower tax rates – giving residents a direct mechanism to monitor or even push back on government spending growth.
- Appraisal caps and less frequent assessments. Properties would be appraised only once every five years under the proposal, reducing what Abbott describes as an annual burden on homeowners and businesses. The plan would also lower the homestead appraisal cap from 10% per year to 3%, and extend that cap beyond homesteads to all property types — including rental and commercial properties.
- A voter referendum on eliminating school property taxes for homeowners. School district taxes make up the largest share of most Texas homeowners’ property tax bills. Abbott’s plan would let voters decide — via a constitutional amendment — whether to eliminate school district property taxes on homes altogether.
Looking Ahead
The announcement comes as Texas primary runoffs conclude this month, with Abbott securing commitments while candidates still need his support.
Abbott has pointed to $51 billion in property tax relief delivered during the most recent legislative session as a landmark achievement. His office, however, also acknowledges that rising appraisals and local government rate increases have eroded that relief for many homeowners. This tension has kept property taxes near the top of the Texas political agenda.
With 76 likely winners already on record, Abbott is heading into the Capitol with a public commitment from enough House members to get it done. The next Texas legislative session opens on January 12, 2027 – and Abbott is making it clear he intends for property tax reform to be front and center from day one.
