Austin, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows on Tuesday issued joint policy guidance directing state agencies and public universities to hold the line on spending as they draft requests for the 2028–29 budget cycle.
The leaders told state agencies and institutions of higher education to trim their base budget requests by 3 percent as they prepare Legislative Appropriations Requests for the next biennium. The guidance also calls on the 90th Texas Legislature to protect funding for public education — including the Foundation School Program and the state's education savings account program — from any base reductions, while advancing property tax relief and fully funding public schools.
“Texas leads the nation with a strong economy and responsible governance that puts families first,” Abbott said. “This guidance protects our historic investments in public education and teachers, delivers even more property tax relief, and makes the cost of living more manageable for Texas families through strict standards of efficiency and accountability from every state agency.”
Patrick said the direction keeps Texas “on a fiscally conservative path that guarantees we live within our means while continuing the Texas Miracle.” Burrows said the spending reductions would provide the baseline for a conservative budget that prioritizes property tax relief and strategic investments to support the state’s growth.