Governor Greg Abbott released the “2026 Report to the People of Texas” on May 6, 2026, a biennial publication that summarizes the state’s major accomplishments and outlines legislative and executive priorities for the year ahead.
Released in interim years when the Texas Legislature is not in session, the report serves as a formal update on the state’s progress in lieu of a State of the State address.
The 2026 report from the Governor has a “promises kept” narrative, focusing on record-breaking investments in public education, historic property tax relief, and the continued expansion of border security operations.
According to the Governor, a central theme is the state’s emergence as a global economic powerhouse—now the eighth-largest economy in the world—and its recent attraction of high-profile corporate investments. The Governor also used the report to signal a forthcoming overhaul of the property tax system, pledging to give voters more power to block local tax hikes in future sessions.
According to the report, the 89th Legislative Session was “one of the most consequential” in Texas history, resulting in a record $90 billion in total funding for public education. This includes $4 billion specifically allocated for teacher pay raises and the launch of a $1 billion universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which the Governor describes as the largest “day-one” school choice initiative in the nation.
In addition to education, the report highlights $51 billion in total property tax relief delivered this biennium. The relief package included increasing the homestead exemption for school district taxes to $140,000 and providing targeted exemptions for small businesses and seniors.
On the security front, the report details a $3.35 billion investment in border and homeland security. This includes the creation of a dedicated Homeland Security Division within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and a mandate for all counties with jails to assist federal immigration authorities.
These measures are part of the broader “Rural Texas Strong” initiative, which also provides strategic funding for rural hospitals and ambulance services to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with the state’s growing population. Independent reporting from Fox 7 Austin notes that while the report touts these as successes, critics and some local officials continue to debate the long-term fiscal impact of shifting border enforcement costs to state taxpayers.
“Texas is the land of opportunity,” Governor Abbott stated. “As we look ahead, we will keep building a stronger, more prosperous Texas for generations to come”.