“Education, Not Indoctrination,” Gov. Abbott Delivers 2025 State of the State Address

Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his 2025 State of the State address on Sunday, outlining his priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature. Abbott emphasized Texas’ economic strength, public safety, and education reform, calling Texas “the blueprint for the future of America.”

During his address, Abbott unveiled some of his emergency items, which will be fast-tracked for legislative action:

• Property tax relief
• Water infrastructure investment
• Teacher pay raises
• Expanded career training opportunities
• Education Savings Account (ESA) program
• Bail reform

“God has blessed Texas, and the state of our state has never been better, but we know more must be done so that the prosperity of the state reaches all Texans,” Abbott said.

Property Tax Relief

Abbott called for at least $10 billion in new property tax relief and proposed a requirement that any local tax increases receive a two-thirds vote from voters.

Water Infrastructure Investment

Abbott proposed a “generational” investment in the state’s water supply, calling for $1 billion annually over the next decade to secure Texas’ long-term water needs.

Teacher Pay Raises & School Safety

Abbott declared teacher pay an emergency item, vowing to increase salaries to an all-time high. He proposed a $750 million investment in the merit-based Teacher Incentive Allotment, aiming to ensure the best teachers earn six-figure salaries. Additionally, he called for another $500 million for school security, addressing both external threats and in-class disciplinary issues.

Education Savings Accounts & Parental Empowerment

Abbott reiterated his push for school choice, emphasizing the need for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to allow parents to select the best educational options for their children.

“Government-mandated schools cannot meet the unique needs of every student. But Texas can provide families with choices to meet those needs,” he said, arguing that ESAs would improve educational outcomes while continuing to fully fund public schools.

Banning DEI in K-12 Schools

Building on last session’s ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, Abbott called for expanding this prohibition to K-12 schools. “We must purge it from every corner of our schools and return the focus to merit,” he said. He also proposed banning educators from discussing gender identity outside of the state’s legal definition, stating, “Any teacher who tells a student otherwise should be fired on the spot.”

This year’s address comes as lawmakers prepare for major debates on school choice, property tax relief, and infrastructure. Abbott’s remarks signal his commitment to advancing conservative policies while addressing economic concerns.

The 89th Texas Legislature, which convened on January 14, will be in session through June 2. The coming months will determine how Abbott’s ambitious agenda takes shape as lawmakers negotiate policy details.