Abbott talks parental empowerment, 'regulatory consistency' to open TPPF policy summit

Gov. Greg Abbott continued his legislative push for "parental empowerment" in Austin on Wednesday while also expressing support for a bill meant to keep local governments in step with state regulations.

Kicking off a three-day panel event hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative policy think tank, Abbott held fast to his stance of opening up to parents decisions on where their children go to school, and he touted an ongoing statewide tour promoting the issue.

"Texas must set our sights on being ranked No. 1 in the United States for the best education system in the entire country," Abbott told the crowd of conservative lawmakers and policy advocates.

More:Gov. Abbott says school hardening measures could be funded with state's budget surplus

Bids to use public school funding to ease private school tuition costs have been floated in the Legislature for decades, but proposals from GOP lawmakers have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans have been critical of pandemic-related school closures, certain library books and methods of teaching about slavery in social studies courses.

Last week in Temple, Abbott specifically touted education savings accounts, which would give parents access to state money in government accounts to spend on private school, tutoring or home schooling.

Focusing most of his 23-minute speech Wednesday on public education, Abbott also promised that the Legislature will bring lasting property tax relief this session.

More:Gov. Abbott continues push for public education savings accounts for private school costs

"Yes, we are going to pass the largest property tax cut ever in the history of Texas," Abbott said.

Abbott did not mention a specific proposal Wednesday, but in the Texas Senate raising the homestead exemption along with "additional property tax relief" are items three and four on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's list of top priorities.

In the House's and Senate's proposed budget bills, lawmakers set aside $15 billion for property tax relief. In the Senate's bill, $3 billion would be used to increase the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $70,000, and the House's proposal calls for a reduction of $2.2 billion in recapture payments of property taxes from relatively wealthier school districts.

"What also must be achieved is to make sure that what we pass provides lasting property tax relief," Abbott said.

Regulatory consistency

Abbott on Wednesday promoted a recently proposed bill intent on solidifying Texas' regulatory authority over cities and counties.

Senate Bill 814, filed by Sens. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, matched with House Bill 2127 from Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, would "return the historic exclusive regulatory powers to the state where those powers belong."

Referencing the 2016 exit by Uber and Lyft from Austin due to city regulations limiting the ride-hailing service giants' ability to operate in the city, Abbott said that local governments creating ordinances that counter state law have to stop.

"This will prevent a patchwork regulation regime that would otherwise make it hard to do business in Texas," Abbott said. "This will protect capitalism and prevent local policies that are hostile to businesses."

In 2017, the Legislature voted to undo local ride-hailing service ordinances that Uber and Lyft opposed in Austin. After regulatory control was placed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Uber and Lyft began operating in Austin within two hours, effectively ending their one-year hiatus.

On Wednesday, SB 814, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, was referred to the Senate Committee on State Affairs.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation's conference will continue Thursday with House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, starting the day with an 8 a.m. address. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is scheduled to speak in the afternoon.

Texas wins Governor's Cup, again

At a separate event Wednesday afternoon at the Governor's Mansion, Abbott took the opportunity to boast that Texas again won the Governor's Cup from Site Selection Magazine for its work to attract business to the state.

"Together, we are making Texas the economic envy of the United States of America," Abbott said at the ceremony where key leaders and economic development "ambassadors" stood behind him.

On both sides of Abbott were 11 Governor's Cups, which Texas has been awarded for 11 years straight.

Texas, the magazine said in the edition published Wednesday, was "the only state to surpass the 1,000-project mark with 1,028, down from 1,123 last year. That’s more than twice the number of projects of second-place Illinois’ 487."

Site Selection Magazine publishes information for expansion-planning decision-makers — CEOs, corporate real estate executives and facility planners, human resource managers and site selection consultants. It has awarded the Governor’s Cup annually since 1978.

More than one state can win the award in the same year. This go-round, Kansas was also honored for total projects per capita.