Texas lawmakers last week filed more than 1,500 bills ahead of the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 14. Proposed measures cover a range of top - ics ranging from border security to abortion ac - cess, education and other issues.
Republicans have ex - panded their control of both chambers after flip - ping several seats during this year's elections. State Comptroller Glenn Hegar has project - ed the state will have a $20 billion surplus at the start of the 2025 session.
Among the bills al - ready filed: Proposed reduction or elimination of proper - ty taxes. State Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, has filed a bill to eliminate property taxes altogether and create a committee to examine "alternative methods of taxation." Property taxes raise $81.5 billion annually, meaning their elimination would likely require a marked increase in sales tax. Oth - er proposed bills would use the state's surplus revenue to partially offset property taxes Austin Democrat Donna Howard filed two bills that would expand when a health care pro - vider can legally per - form an abortion. The state's near-total ban on abortion has resulted in women coming forward with stories of delayed or denied medical care, and more than 100 Texas OB/GYNs signed a letter saying they have been re - stricted from providing high-quality care to their patients.
