For years, Texans were forced to pay the price for Sleepy Joe Biden's failure to secure our southern border. The Trump administration recently marked 16 consecutive months of zero releases at the border. Border Patrol apprehensions have fallen dramatically compared with the previous administration, and the era of mass catch-and-release has been brought to an end. We are also making progress against the deadly drugs that have devastated families and communities across our country.
Using preliminary 2026 appraisal district data, economic and market trends, and historical valuation patterns, the Comptroller’s office estimates that statewide taxable property value will increase to $4.33 trillion in 2026 — a 5.07% rise from 2025. These values reflect recent policy changes including the voter‑approved increase in the school district homestead exemption to $140,000, a temporary 20% appraisal cap on certain non‑homestead properties, and adjustments to exemptions for income‑producing tangible personal property.
The GLO is only able to offer this extension due to petitioning the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for one final extension of the 2017 Hurricane Harvey Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding. Thankfully, HUD approved this request based on the GLO’s strong track record of managing these funds and is now willing to give communities that need it more time.
As concerns about the cost and availability of energy have increased among American consumers, Democrats in the House and Senate have stepped up efforts to block Republican legislative initiatives to address these concerns. Following weeks of energy permitting reform negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats, as well as the Trump administration, negotiations have broken down and may be difficult to revive during an anticipated lame-duck session following the 2026 congressional elections.
Governor Greg Abbott hosted a meeting of the Texas Jobs Council at the Governor’s Mansion and received an update on the Council’s work to strengthen Texas workforce development and help more Texans access in-demand, high-paying jobs. He also signed a proclamation declaring October 2-9 Manufacturing Week in Texas. Governor Abbott created the Texas Jobs Council in March to develop legislative recommendations and actionable items that can be implemented through executive or agency authority.
The Federal Bank Robbery Act of 1934 currently applies to banks and financial institutions, but not to standalone ATMs in malls, convenience stores, or other public locations. Robbers and thieves are increasingly targeting ATMs, with theft rates rising dramatically each year since 2019. ATMs can be robbed in as little as three minutes and may hold as much as $250,000. Houston is currently tied with Chicago and Philadelphia as one of the cities facing serious ATM theft.
Double-digit growth in receipts was observed for the large sectors primarily influenced by business spending — mining, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and real estate, rental and leasing. Those rates of growth were in some part attributable to last year's collections being depressed by higher-than-normal refund activity, but most of the growth reflects an increase in economic activity this year.
For the last three election cycles, there were no nationally broadcast debates between the two candidates running in the general. From 2014, when Governor Brown was all but assured reelection and participated in a small debate, to 2018 and 2022, when Gavin Newsom didn’t bother with much of a major debate either, since he was assured victory. For the first time in 16 years, the Republicans have a somewhat conservative candidate who isn't afraid to confront bad leadership.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is cautioning homeowners in the counties most impacted by the 2024 Disasters: Time is running out to apply for repair reimbursement or home rebuilding assistance from the Texas General Land Office (GLO)! The GLO launched the applications for the programs more than a year ago and funding is limited. Applications are reviewed for eligibility in the order they are submitted.
Governor Greg Abbott today delivered remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Saronic Technologies’ Port Alpha manufacturing facility at the Port of Brownsville. The shipyard will generate up to 10,000 jobs and create an estimated $264.5 billion in economic impact for the State of Texas, marking one of the largest economic development projects in Texas history. This development will ensure national security, economic prosperity, and freedom on the seas.
He’s pushing all the right medical buttons to make it happen. His nominee to serve as Surgeon General, Dr. Nicole Saphier, told the Senate Health Committee during her confirmation hearing: "If confirmed, as surgeon general, one of my crucial messages is going to be that early detection matters, and with that is cancer screening… Early detection and cancer screening will be a crucial message if confirmed as Surgeon General."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced increased financial assistance for the Regenerative Pilot Program from $700 million to $1 billion in fiscal year 2027, providing more producers with the opportunity to adopt conservation systems that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience. Producers can now apply for assistance with regenerative practices.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) introduced the 529 Retirement Enhancement Act of 2026. This bipartisan legislation eliminates the $35,000 lifetime cap on rollovers from 529 education savings accounts to Roth IRAs. This legislation eliminates the lifetime cap while maintaining existing requirements, allowing excess 529 assets to be rolled over into a Roth IRA over time rather than having the assets remain stranded in the 529 account.
We hear it every two years – some Democrat promising to solve all your problems by pushing “Medicare for All!” It’s the cure for what ails you, they insist: your health insurance. But there is a lot about the healthcare industry, including insurance, that they don’t tell you. I will. This year’s model of promising Utopia is Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. He has joined the Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) chorus insisting “free” healthcare is just a vote away.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster proclamation to allow expanded use of dyed diesel on Texas roads. The proclamation also raises the allowable weight for fuel, agricultural, and timber loads, and suspends Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) rules to the extent the EPA authorizes. The Governor also requested that the EPA waive federal ultra-low sulfur diesel requirements.
The White House's announcement that it will automatically enroll millions of American children in Trump Accounts will chart a path to create individually-owned life savings for future generations. The Internal Revenue Service will use its data to create a Trump Account for 60 million American children, providing $1,000 for babies born between 2025 and the end of 2028, along with a tax-advantaged investment account for all children younger than 18 that parents, guardians, employers and others can donate to.
Texans don’t take kindly to outsiders interfering in their affairs. They might not be aware, then, of a shady financing pipeline that is turning ordinary car wrecks into paydays for investors who never set foot in the state, costing Texas households more than $4,500 a year. This coming winter, the Texas Legislature will have a chance to require transparency into who is funding lawsuits. They can keep frivolous lawsuits down so real victims can seek justice.
RRC Commissioner Wayne Christian today praised President Donald Trump and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy for finalizing new fuel economy standards that roll back Biden-era mandates, reduce regulatory burdens on automakers and give consumers more choices when buying a vehicle. The new ‘Freedom Means Affordable Cars’ standards set a fleetwide average fuel economy target of 34.9 miles per gallon by model year 2031, down from the Biden administration's unrealistic 50.4 mpg target.
