Texas Governor Greg Abbott Outlines Legislative Priorities, Including Data Center Regulation
Texas Governor Greg Abbott outlined his legislative priorities at the Texas GOP convention, proposing regulation for data centers, property tax cuts, and immigration control. He also called for closing state primaries and banning local government lobbying.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott delivered a speech at the Texas GOP convention in Houston, outlining his legislative priorities and campaign message for the upcoming midterm elections. Abbott called for regulating data centers, slashing property taxes, and implementing stricter immigration policies. He also proposed closing Republican primaries to only registered Republicans, a move supported by GOP activists, and banning local governments from employing lobbyists in Austin.
The Governor's address, which took place at the George R. Brown Convention Center, also included sharp criticism of Democrats, whom he characterized as "radical socialists." Abbott specifically mentioned Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, and Rep. Gina Hinojosa, his own Democratic opponent, without naming her directly. He also emphasized the importance of party unity for securing victory in November.
Abbott underscored other key tasks for the Texas GOP, such as codifying his executive order freezing H-1B visa applications from state agencies and public universities to include all state and local governments. He also advocated for requiring two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases and called for outlawing Sharia law in Texas. Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa criticized Abbott's speech as "hypocritical, boring, and stuck in the past," arguing that he failed to address issues like rising healthcare and utility costs.