This week, Gov. Greg Abbott was sworn in to his third term in the state’s highest office – putting him on track to be the second-longest serving Texas governor, after Rick Perry.
James Barragán, politics reporter for The Texas Tribune, said Abbott was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick – also being sworn in for a third term – on the south steps of the state Capitol.
“They were talking about priorities like property tax relief – we know that’s a big one. It’s been a big one for state leaders for many years,” Barragán said. “And border security. But also new ones like parental rights in education, and public safety in the context of things like hardening schools against mass shootings.”
Barragán said that other priorities noted by Patrick were specific property tax relief proposals he’d like to see, like a $70,000 homestead exemption. The current homestead exemption is $40,000.
For more stories from the week in Texas politics, including the state budget surplus and and update on last year’s FBI raid on Congressman Henry Cuellar’s office, listen in the audio player above.
