Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.8 billion in February, 4.3% more than in February 2024. Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in February 2025 was up 4% compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58% of all tax collections.

Last week, every single Democrat voted against cutting waste and preventing tax hikes on hardworking Families & Small Businesses when we passed a fiscally responsible Budget Resolution in the House that sets the stage for Extending the Trump Tax Cuts, Securing our Border, Unleashing American Energy, and Reining in Reckless Spending. This is the first step in undoing the damage of the past four years and restoring a pro-America Agenda – but don’t be misled by the liberal media’s fear tactics.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 531,500 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 51,000 criminal arrests, with more than 43,700 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 625 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States, Mexico, and Canada combined during this border mission.  

As your Texas General Land Office Commissioner, I have directed the GLO to continue to use every tool at our disposal to help the Trump Administration secure our border – and in the past week I've joined the broadcasts of NewsNation and NewsMax to discuss putting a stop to the violence at the border. I’ve been very vocal in my support of – and resolved in my commitment to assist – President Trump’s mission to deport the dangerous criminal illegal immigrants on American soil.

In April of 2023, the biggest theft of citizens’ money happened when a foreign syndicate purchased 26 million $1 tickets in the Lotto Texas game. The winning prize had reached $95 million. Those tickets were all bought within 72 hours of the winning numbers being announced. The Lottery Commission not only inexplicably allowed this to happen but also provided extraordinary assistance in facilitating the printing of these tickets in several courier locations, one of which had little to no experience in printing tickets.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The bill would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and would pull taxpayer-funded grants to sanctuary cities. Sen. Cruz previously introduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act in 2023.

The price of copper has increased 500% since 2000, driving up the payout for thieves.  Fort Worth saw a 545% increase in reported AT&T cable theft and a 53% increase in metal theft overall between October 2020 and October 2024.  Police across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex have arrested more than 250 people for stealing copper wire in the past year.

“For the first time in our great state’s history, the Texas House has the votes to pass a universal school choice program,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “This is a remarkable achievement for the countless parents, students, and educators across Texas who want school choice expanded to all Texas families. This session, Texas will usher in a new era where families have the opportunity to choose the learning environment that meets the unique needs of their children.”

Senate Bill 26, by Senator Brandon Creighton, establishes a new teacher retention allotment to provide pay increases for teachers. SB 26 addresses the pay gap between urban and suburban teachers and rural teachers. Teachers with three to four years of experience in suburban and urban school districts (with 5,001 or more students enrolled) will receive pay increases of $2,500 per year, while teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a pay increase of $5,500 per year.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas-21) reintroduced the bicameral "Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments (RESULT) Act." The legislation increases access to drugs, devices, and other medical therapies already approved in other trusted countries, facilitating access to life-saving treatments for Americans. This legislation was also cosponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

"Women across America deserve the freedom to protect themselves AND their families – without being burdened by unconstitutional overreach," said Dianna Muller, founder of Women for Gun Rights, expressing the group's strong support for Donald Trump's new FBI Director Kash Patel.​​​​​ "For too long the ATF has made it harder – not safer – for women to exercise their right to bear arms, so we’re thrilled to see someone leading the agency who respects the 2nd Amendment, instead of using the agency to undermine it."

In an increasingly dangerous world, America and its allies must continue countering our adversaries — and we can't afford to let our guard down. While attending the recent Munich Security Conference, I met with many of our key allies, and with World Leaders and top Security Experts to discuss strengthening our strategies for combatting the continuing threats from China, as well as working to resolve the Middle East conflicts. And, I supported Vice President JD Vance's powerful speech while in attendance.

“Continued investments in the workforce of the future is crucial to building a stronger Texas – and 18-year-old Raya Rabold is the perfect example. Raya joined me at my 'State of the State' Address earlier this month, took welding at Jarrell High School, continued training at Texas State Technical College, her welding's been featured in the 'Yellowstone' TV show, and she's working to become a Welding Inspector that earns as much as $85,000 a year," said Gov. Greg Abbott, issuing a proclamation recognizing February 2025 as "Career & Technical Education Month in Texas."

Here's our analysis of what happens if the Democrats have their way and the Trump Tax Cuts of 2017 are not extended – or are allowed to expire over the coming few months. For starters, if the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act expires, the standard deduction for Married Couples will be cut to $16,525 in 2026, versus $30,725 if the tax cut remains. This means about four times as many – millions more Americans – will have to itemize deductions, making tax preparation much more complicated. But it gets worse.

The Senate has been at work confirming President Trump’s cabinet nominees at the fastest pace since 2001. Last week, the Senate confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel, a true warrior who has dedicated his life to protecting America and exposing corruption. He will play a key role in ending government overreach and challenging the D.C. status quo. This is great news as we continue our efforts to get America back on track.

During this 89th session of the Texas Legislature, one of our priorities is the safety of our precious children. Therefore, 89R 3132 has been filed to allow a student facing an unsafe environment, whether due to bullying or other threats, to transfer to a safer educational setting while ensuring that the funds allocated to that student follow them to their new school.

Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 531,400 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 50,900 criminal arrests, with more than 43,600 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 625 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States, Mexico, and Canada combined during this border mission.  

During the keynote address at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s annual Texas Policy Summit in Austin, Gov. Greg Abbott shared the real facts about the School Choice bills moving through the Texas Legislature – including that public education will continue to be fully funded; every Texas family in every region, demographic, and socio-economic background will have access; per-student funding is at an all-time high of over $15,000; and parents who homeschool their children will have control over their curriculum.

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced the Border Airport Fairness Act, legislation that would designate user fee airports within 30 miles of a land border as a port of entry (POE) and eliminate duplicative government fees.

"Since the Senate first passed a version of this resolution in January 2021, there have been at least 162 homicide cases filed in Harris County (Houston) alone involving defendants who were released on one or more Criminal Case Bonds, and then committed a new murder offense. Repeat offenders should not be allowed to roam freely, continuing their crime sprees and causing chaos in Texas," said Lt. Gov. Patrick, as the Senate passed Sen. Joan Huffman's SJR 5 on a 29-2 vote.