Abbott vs. Hinojosa: Two Plans to End Texas Property Taxes, and How Likely Either Is

Updated October 16, 2026

Could Texas homeowners stop paying property taxes? Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa have both put elimination on the table, but their proposals differ in scope, in funding, and in how clearly they describe the path forward.

Abbott wants to eliminate school district property taxes on homesteads. Hinojosa's campaign platform describes a broader goal of eliminating residential property taxes, paid for by ending corporate subsidies. Neither proposal gives homeowners a new exemption today.

For homeowners trying to budget, the practical question is how much of either promise could become law.

What each candidate is proposing

What would disappear?

• Abbott: School district property taxes on qualifying homesteads.
• Hinojosa: Residential property taxes, as an eventual goal. Eligibility details are still unsettled.

Where would the replacement money come from?

• Abbott: State revenue and budget surpluses.
• Hinojosa: Savings from ending corporate subsidies and cutting government waste.

How developed is the proposal?

• Abbott: A five-point reform platform that includes a constitutional amendment.
• Hinojosa: A stated policy goal without a detailed implementation or funding schedule.

What should homeowners expect now?

• Both: Existing tax rules still apply.

This comparison draws on each campaign's published positions and on reporting from The Texas Tribune's analysis of Abbott's plan and the Houston Chronicle's reporting on Hinojosa's proposal.

Abbott's plan: remove school taxes from homesteads

Abbott's proposal targets school district taxes on a homeowner's primary residence. His five-point property tax plan also calls for local spending limits, two-thirds voter approval for tax increases, voter-triggered rollback elections, and caps on appraisal growth.

The scope matters. Removing your school district tax would still leave other charges, such as city, county, hospital district or municipal utility district taxes. According to The Texas Tribune, rental homes, apartments and commercial property would still pay school taxes.

Take a hypothetical $8,000 annual property tax bill that includes $4,000 in school district taxes. Removing the entire school portion would leave a $4,000 bill, assuming the other charges stayed the same. That is substantial relief, but homeowners would still need to budget for property taxes.

How likely is Abbott's plan to pass?

Abbott has built support for his agenda. In May, his campaign announced pledges from 88 Republican Texas House incumbents and nominees. That shows momentum, but campaign pledges don't guarantee votes on final legislation.

The constitutional amendment faces a higher bar. Under Article 17 of the Texas Constitution, it needs a two-thirds vote of all members in each chamber, then a majority of voters statewide. Winning the governor's race alone doesn't meet either requirement.

Funding is the other hurdle. School districts collected about $17.5 billion from owners of single-family homes in tax year 2023, a figure that includes rentals that wouldn't qualify, according to a Texas Taxpayers and Research Association analysis cited by the Tribune. The state's chief revenue estimator told a House committee in September that covering school operating taxes for all homeowners could cost about $8.6 billion a year now and up to $12 billion by 2032, the Houston Chronicle reported. Abbott plans to use surpluses, which budget watchers warn may shrink.

TaxDrop's assessment: Abbott's plan has a defined structure and visible legislative support, but the amendment threshold and the recurring cost make a phased or partial version more likely than full elimination right away.

Hinojosa's plan: redirect subsidies toward homeowner relief

Hinojosa proposes ending corporate subsidies and using the savings to cut property taxes, "with the end goal of eliminating residential property taxes." Her campaign also says schools can stay fully funded.

The open question is whether the savings would be large enough, and arrive soon enough. As of October 6, her campaign had not identified which tax breaks or contracts would cover the cost. She pointed to Texas Education Agency contracts as one example and acknowledged of full elimination, "I don't know if we can get there."

How likely is Hinojosa's plan to pass?

Turning the goal into a workable program would require an itemized funding plan, eligibility rules, and agreement on how the state would replace local revenue.

Ending a subsidy also doesn't necessarily free up cash right away. Lawmakers would need to separate future incentives they could stop offering, existing commitments they could legally change, and spending cuts that would actually free money for tax relief.

Both candidates also face competing priorities in the Senate. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick favors raising the homestead exemption and has questioned relying on surpluses for outright elimination, the Chronicle reported.

TaxDrop's assessment: Hinojosa's full elimination goal is harder to evaluate because the financing and implementation details are incomplete. Targeted reductions would be easier to assess once she identifies specific, recurring savings.

Why smaller tax cuts look more achievable

Our assessment is that incremental relief has a clearer path than either elimination promise.

Smaller changes let lawmakers match the cost of relief to available revenue. They also leave room to negotiate who benefits, how quickly changes take effect, and how schools and local services get replacement funding.

Complete elimination requires answers to harder questions:

• Which properties and tax charges qualify?
• How much revenue must be replaced every year?
• What happens when state revenue falls?
• How are school operations and existing debt handled?
• When would homeowners actually see the change on their bills?

Until those answers show up in legislation and budget estimates, treat elimination as a policy goal, not an expected household saving.

What Texas homeowners can do now

You don't need to wait for a statewide overhaul to check whether your property is taxed correctly.

Check your homestead exemption. Texas requires school districts to provide a $140,000 residence homestead exemption for qualifying homes. That reduces taxable value. It is not a $140,000 cut to your bill. See the Texas Comptroller's guide to property tax exemptions.

Review your appraisal records. Comparable sales, your home's condition, and errors in the property description can all matter when you challenge a high valuation. The Comptroller's Texas Property Tax System overview explains how values are set and reviewed.

Watch your filing deadline. The usual protest deadline is May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mails your notice of appraised value, whichever is later. By October, most ordinary 2026 protest deadlines have passed, though limited exceptions such as motions to correct certain errors have their own rules. See the Comptroller's page on protests and appeals.

For now, budget using current law and your actual tax statements. Campaign promises don't change what you owe.

Want help reviewing your property's assessment? Start with your address at TaxDrop to see your options for pursuing a fair valuation.