This week, TFR sent the following Letter to Governor Greg Abbott, requesting that he veto Senate Bill 646 and Senate Bill 974, two bills that grow government and expand entitlements.

Dear Governor Abbott,

We are writing to respectfully urge you to veto both Senate Bill 646 and Senate Bill 974—two bills that not only represent an expansion of government, but also pose serious concerns for Texas taxpayers.

SB 646 is a deeply flawed and fiscally irresponsible expansion of the state’s Mental Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program. This is, effectively, a state-run student loan bailout—something that closely mirrors the Biden administration’s federal loan forgiveness schemes, which Texas has rightfully pushed back against. Hardworking Texans struggling to pay their own bills should not be forced to pay off someone else’s student debt.

SB 974, meanwhile, opens the door to a serious conflict of interest by allowing public school teachers, who are school district employees, to serve on appraisal review boards. These boards have influence on property tax valuations, which in turn help fund school districts. Letting teachers sit on these boards undermines the objectivity of the appraisal process and threatens public trust.

Both bills may have been well-intentioned, but they fundamentally violate conservative principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility. Texans deserve policies that protect their wallets—not programs that grow government or expand entitlements.

Please stand with taxpayers and veto SB 646 and SB 974.

Thank you for your public service to the State of Texas. 

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