We can all agree: Texas must never turn into California. Californians are struggling due to the high cost of living and excessive taxes — not to mention their radical liberal government and culture. Some of you may even have fled from states like California to find a safe refuge in conservative, free Texas.
However, if we’re not careful, Texas’s housing market may transform into something similar to that of Blue States rather than the free-market land of opportunity it once was. As of the end of 2024, nearly 75% of Texas households could not afford to buy a home, with some areas exceeding 90%. Housing shortages have made prices unattainable for many first-time homebuyers and those looking to move to a different house.
To address this shortage, I have filed a bill that is a priority for both Governor Abbott and Speaker Burrows to repeal the “Tyrant’s Veto”. What is the “Tyrant’s Veto,” you might ask? This little-known law allows only 20% of property owners within 200 feet of a proposed building project to block it. Even more concerning, the “Tyrant’s Veto” leaves even your local elected City Council almost powerless to take action, requiring a supermajority of over 75% to override a “Tyrant’s Veto.” In a city council with just seven members, a daunting six out of seven members must agree for a new housing project to proceed under these conditions.
