As delegates gather for the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Convention next week, the opportunity to help shape the state’s future will be front and center. This gathering sets the tone for the 90th Legislative Session in 2027, allowing grassroots Republicans to refine the party platform and establish top legislative priorities that advance conservative policies.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) urges delegates to prioritize three transformative reforms: the elimination of property taxes, a complete ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, and the abolition of the Texas Lottery. These measures address core failures in state and local governance and put families and taxpayers first.
Eliminate Property Taxes
Property taxes remain one of the most pressing burdens on Texas families. For too long, property owners have been trapped in a system of taxation that acts quite similar to perpetual rent to the government. Statewide, property taxes have surged nearly 35% in just the last six years, far outpacing population and inflation growth, squeezing family budgets, forcing seniors from their longtime residences, undermining small businesses, and making homeownership increasingly difficult and out of reach for young families.
At a fundamental level, Texas does not suffer from a revenue shortage, but from a spending problem. Local taxing entities across Texas continue to increase spending, take advantage of loopholes, and expand bureaucracy. That local-spending appetite is the number one cause of skyrocketing property taxes. Spending at the state level, likewise, has been on a record run, increasing roughly 42% in the last two legislative sessions. That’s not sustainable, and limits the ability of legislators to provide property tax relief.
The solution lies in spending limits and cuts across the board, prioritizing core services, empowering voters to stop all property tax increases, using budget surpluses to buy down taxes, and eliminating school Maintenance and Operations (M&O) property taxes. These, and other reforms (highlighted HERE)1 are the first steps to actually eliminate property taxes in a sustainable way. Making the elimination of property taxes a RPT legislative priority would send a powerful signal to Austin that the half-measures of recent years are not cutting it. Delegates should champion this reform at convention, and keep the pressure up going into the next legislative session.
Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
Equally important is ending taxpayer-funded lobbying.2 This practice allows local governments, school districts, and taxpayer-funded associations to use your tax dollars to hire lobbyists who then pressure lawmakers in Austin for higher spending, expanded government programs, and corporate welfare. These lobbyists frequently oppose conservative priorities such as property tax relief and spending caps. Texans should not be required to bankroll efforts that work against their interests.
No matter what issue you’re passionate about: whether it’s property taxes, protecting children, immigration, spending limits, or another issue, taxpayer-funded lobbyists are almost always on the other side of conservatives on that issue.
A full, enforceable ban on all forms of taxpayer-funded lobbying, without loopholes or creative workarounds, is essential. Republican legislators must prioritize a clean bill, and reject influence from these lobbyists. This change would restore integrity to the legislative process and turn off the tap for big-government advocates.
Abolish the Texas Lottery
Another overdue priority is the abolition of the Texas Lottery.3 More than three decades after its approval with promises of transformational school funding, the Lottery has fallen far short. Despite billions in ticket sales, it contributes only a negligible fraction of the education budget—barely enough to cover just three days of public schooling annually.
Worse, the Lottery has become synonymous with scandal, corruption, and mismanagement. Investigations have exposed issues involving lottery couriers, bulk purchasing, insider favoritism, and criminal indictments and charges against lottery officials.
At its foundation, the Lottery functions as government-sponsored predatory gambling that preys on those with the least disposable income, encouraging risky bets on a rigged system while the state takes its cut. With Texas enjoying strong economic growth and multi-billion-dollar budget surpluses, there is no need for such exploitative revenue streams. Transparent budgeting and prudent stewardship should fund priorities instead.
TFR’s Texas Anti-Predatory Gambling Alliance4 (TAPGA) calls on delegates to elevate “abolishing the Texas Lottery” as an official RPT legislative priority, signaling a clear rejection of corruption and predatory practices.
Seize the Opportunity
Now is the moment for the delegates of the Republican Party of Texas to provide decisive leadership. By adopting these priorities: property tax elimination, a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, and Lottery abolition, delegates can advance a bold agenda that curbs government overreach, eliminates wasteful practices, and protects Texas families.
The convention represents a pivotal chance to prioritize the reforms that will preserve the Lone Star State as a beacon of prosperity where all Texans come first.
You can read more about the three priorities, and others, at TexasTaxpayers.com/Convention5
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the support of private donors across the Lone Star State in order to promote fiscal responsibility and pro-taxpayer government in Texas. Please consider supporting our efforts! Thank you!
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- https://texastaxpayers.com/texas-property-taxes-increased-2-7-billion-in-2025-whats-broken-and-how-do-we-actually-fix-it/ ↩︎
- https://texastaxpayers.com/the-time-is-now-ban-taxpayer-funded-lobbying/ ↩︎
- https://texastaxpayers.com/the-texas-lottery-decades-of-scandal-corruption-and-fiscal-irresponsibility/ ↩︎
- https://tapga.org ↩︎
- https://texastaxpayers.com/convention/ ↩︎
