Governor Greg Abbott has released his 2026 “Report to the People of Texas”, highlighting victories during the 89thLegislative Session and progress on his policy priorities. The report is released in years when the Texas Legislature does not meet, and the Governor gives no State of the State address.
“Texas is the land of opportunity,” said Governor Abbott. “We believe in hard work and in high expectations. We value our faith, our families, and our freedom. Texas isn’t just another state. It’s our home and heritage. When challenges arise, so do Texans. As we look ahead, we will keep building a stronger, more prosperous Texas for generations to come.”
The report lists numerous achievements during the 89th Legislative Session, which is described as “the most consequential in Texas history.” Among the accomplishments listed in the report are:
- The creation of a $1 billion school choice program
- Expanded funding for career training programs
- $4 billion for teacher pay raises
- Denial of bail for high-risk violent offenders
- $3.35 billion in border security funding
- Prohibiting the sale of land to foreign adversaries
- New cybersecurity programs
- Significant investments in infrastructure, including water and power
- $51 billion in property tax relief
- The creation of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office
- Banning SNAP benefits from being used to purchase candy and soft drinks
- Increased funding for rural health care
In addition to legislative victories, the report details the Governor’s work on several priority policy areas.
Economic development remains a priority for Abbott. “The state of the Texas economy has never been stronger. More Texans are working than ever before. And thanks to the productivity of our skilled and growing workforce, the Texas economy is eighth largest when compared to the nations of the world. In 2025, Texas again dominated the nation for attracting new business investment and good- paying jobs for hardworking Texans as a result of our pro-growth economic policies. As a result, we ended the year with a new record high for Texans working,” states the report.
In the area of public safety, the report discusses the work of the Governor’s public safety office, which distributed $1.097 billion in grants during Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025. Of that amount, $189 million was spent on border security efforts. An additional $82.2 million was distributed to cities and counties for the Operation Lone Star initiative that “integrates local law enforcement and DPS with the Texas National Guard and deploys air, ground, marine, and tactical border security assets to high-threat areas to stop Mexican cartels and other criminals from smuggling drugs and people into Texas.”
According to the report, Operation Lone Star has resulted in the apprehension of over 536,900 illegal aliens and more than 61,700 criminal arrests – resulting in more than 49,900 felony charges as of January 1, 2026.
The Report to the People of Texas also includes a report from Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, who emphasized Texans’ generosity and kindness.
“Texans are generous by nature, and that compassion is the secret of our shared success. My greatest honor as First Lady is tapping into that compassion and encouraging more Texans to give back, to volunteer, and to make a difference by serving their communities,” wrote Mrs. Abbott.
