State of the State: What you need to know
This is a preview of our Texas 2036 newsletter recapping what you need to know about Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State address. To receive this weekly look at our work, sign up here.
State of the State: Everything you need to know
Gov. Greg Abbott gave the traditional State of the State address on Sunday where he laid out his legislative priorities for the 2025 regular legislative session.
Here are the emergency items we are watching closely this session:
- a generational investment in water
- increasing teachers’ average salary to an all-time high
- life-changing career training
- creation of a Texas Cyber Command
1. Water Investments for the Future
Texas faces a long-term water supply deficit if it does not develop enough new water supplies and is hit with another long, severe drought. Aging water systems in need of repairs place a significant strain on our state’s resources.
$154 billion
will need to be spent on water needs over the next 50 years.
The Texas 2036 take: Texas’ future depends on water infrastructure
What can we do this session? Create a dedicated revenue stream to address long-term economic needs for continuous, adequate water supplies and reliable infrastructure.
2. Increasing Teachers’ Pay
The Teacher Incentive Allotment provides teachers, particularly in low income and rural schools, a pathway to earn a six-figure salary. By keeping the best teachers in the classroom longer, Texas can raise the quality of education and improve student outcomes.
89% vs. 80%
The difference in teacher retention rates by a district for TIA-designated teachers vs. non-designated teachers.
The Texas 2036 take: Strengthening the Texas Teacher Workforce
What can we do this session? Expand the Teacher Incentive Allotment to reward and retain the best teachers, and explore other avenues to increase teacher pay.
3. Life-Changing Career Training
Every student in Texas deserves to graduate from high school ready for college or career. By investing in more robust workforce programming, Texas can offer students the chance to earn self-sustaining wages right after high school.
63%
of jobs in Texas will require some sort of postsecondary credential or training by 2031.
The Texas 2036 take: Pathways to Rural Careers in Texas
What can we do this session? Ensure the K-12 system is aligned with workforce demands and incentivizing opportunities for students to earn a family-sustaining wage upon high school graduation, particularly in rural areas.
4. Texas Cyber Command
In recent years, more and more Texans have become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of Texas businesses and state agencies to cyber attacks and cybercrime. Last session, lawmakers responded by creating the post of Chief Information Security Officer.
$1.02B
47,305 Texans lost this much money to cybercrime in 2023.
[Source: Axios Dallas]
The Texas 2036 take: Can Texas Reinforce Its Cybersecurity Through IT Modernization?
What can we do this session? Lawmakers can upgrade agency technology, adopt AI-based tools and address cybersecurity risks through initiatives like the Cyber Command, on which the state will partner with the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Why the State of the State Matters
For the most part, Texas lawmakers are prohibited from passing legislation during the first 60 days of a regular legislative session with an exception for items declared an emergency by the governor.
Lawmakers can begin work immediately on all seven emergency items designated by Abbott in this week’s State of the State address.
Texas 2036 at State of the State
Senior VP for policy and advocacy John Hryhorchuk was an invited guest to the Abbott address and also to the televised roundtable discussion hosted by KXAN-TV’s Daniel Marin afterward.
📺 Watch his take on the state of career readiness.
Texas 2036 in State of the State press coverage
And media outlets across the state are calling on the expertise of the Texas 2036 policy team to inform their State of the State coverage:
- Gov. Greg Abbott lays out his agenda for Texas with emphasis on vouchers, water and property taxes (Houston Public Media)
- Governor Abbott declares water infrastructure an emergency in state of the state address (KEYE-TV)
- Democratic lawmakers react to Gov. Abbott’s 7 emergency legislative priorities (KVUE-TV)
💰 Three’s company, budget edition: In addition to the Senate and House releasing their base budgets, the governor releases a budget to lay out his spending priorities for the upcoming two-year budget cycle.
Abbott released his budget on Sunday, coinciding with the State of the State address.
📚 Read more: 2026-2027 Governor’s Budget
📺 More on the Legislature’s base budgets: Texas budget proposals would fund school choice, border security, property tax relief
Energy: Another Top Priority
Also in his State of the State address, Abbott signaled that energy expansion remains a top priority for the state. And he added that it’s time for Texas to lead a national nuclear power renaissance.
The Texas 2036 take: Texas electric grid 101: Your questions answered
What do Texas voters think? Half of Texas voters would pay more on their monthly electric bill to reduce the frequency of power outages and increase the reliability of Texas’ electric grid. [Source: Texas Voter Poll, 8th edition]
The 89th legislative session: Status report
As of Feb. 5, lawmakers have filed 3,361 bills so far this legislative session. Here’s the breakdown by chamber [Source: Texas Legislature Online]:
- 2,285 House bills
- 1,076 Senate bills
📅 Mark your calendars! Lawmakers have until March 14 to file legislation.
Let us know what you think!
We want to hear from you on Abbott’s emergency items from the State of the State address and what you think the state of the state is.