Gov. Greg Abbott (R) viciously wielded his veto power for seemingly purely political purposes over the final weekend of the veto period, vetoing 45 bills, bringing his total number of vetoes of bills passed in the 88th regular session to 76.   

While many of Abbott’s vetoes, especially of Senate bills, were done in an attempt to force a deal on property taxes, he also openly vetoed nine House bills unrelated to public education because their authors had taken a stand against vouchers during the regular session. In his proclamations announcing the vetoes, he stated the bills could be passed in a special session “only after education freedom is passed.” 

The bills vetoed by Abbott due to the author’s stance on vouchers were: 

• House Bill (HB) 1466 by Rep. Travis Clardy (R–Nacogdoches), related to continuing education requirements for professional licensure. 
• HB 2629 by Rep. Glenn Rogers (R–Graford), related to campaign expenditures. 
• HB 3436 by Rep. Glenn Rogers (R–Graford), related to the Texas Military Department and land in Palo Pinto County. 
• HB 4106 by Rep. Jay Dean (R–Longview), related to resolving certain customer complaints before the Public Utility Commission of Texas. 
• HB 4219 by Rep. Stan Lambert (R–Abilene), related to interest rates on consumer loans. 
• HB 5332 by Rep. Ernest Bailes (R–Shepherd), related to creation of Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 229. 
• HB 5358 by Rep. Glenn Rogers (R–Graford), related to creation of the Ranger Ridge Municipal Utility District of Palo Pinto County. 
• HB 5360 by Rep. Hugh Shine (R–Temple), creation of the Deer Creek Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1. 
• HB 5366 by Rep. Kyle Kacal (R–College Station), related to creation of the Grimes County Municipal Utility District No. 3. 

ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes released a statement on the vetoes: “Gov. Abbott seems to have forgotten that lawmakers are elected to represent their constituents in Austin, not do his bidding. Vetoing legislation because of a lawmaker’s position on an unrelated issue is a misuse of power, and every Texan should be appalled. It takes lots of time and taxpayer dollars to get any bill across the finish line, and the governor is willing to waste both to score national political points.”