The Biggest Issues Facing Texas Families

Over the past several weeks, Texas Family Project has been on the road, traveling across our great state and meeting directly with Texans in Bryan, San Antonio, Beaumont, and Houston.

We spoke to groups about our grassroots and legislative efforts, but also asked many of them a simple question: What are the biggest issues facing your family right now?

The answers we received were consistent and in line with our efforts.

1. Concerns About Islam and Cultural Compatibility

Across every stop, one concern rose above the rest: the growing presence of Islam in Texas and what it could mean for the future of our state. Many Texans expressed concern that Islamic teachings are fundamentally incompatible with the constitutional framework and values that define Texas and America.

Texans believe in religious freedom, but they also believe in the rule of law. They do not want competing legal or cultural systems shaping their communities, especially when those systems differ sharply on issues like free speech, women’s rights, and religious liberty. Islam will always push to implement Sharia Law; therefore, Islam as a whole cannot operate within Texas.

2. Property Taxes Are Crushing Families

If there was one issue that came close to matching the urgency of cultural concerns, it was property taxes. Families across the state are feeling squeezed, and they’re not buying the political talking point that relief is on the way.

Texans told us they are tired of temporary fixes and want a real, long-term solution. Many pointed directly to local government spending, especially at the school district level, as a major driver of rising taxes.

We heard repeated frustration over the fact that:

• Many school superintendents earn more annually than the Governor of Texas

• Massive new athletic facilities and expansions continue to be approved

• Property tax bills keep rising, regardless of promises made in Austin

Local entities spending with little accountability have made life for families unaffordable.

3. Casinos: A Risk Texans Don’t Want to Take

The third major concern we heard was the potential expansion of casino gambling in Texas. While some politicians and lobbyists pitch casinos as economic development, Texans we spoke with are deeply skeptical, and for good reason.

Communities that have embraced casino gambling have often seen serious social consequences follow, including:

• Increased addiction rates

• Higher divorce rates

• Growth in sex trafficking activity

• Rising foreclosure and financial instability

Many argue that if we brought casinos to Texas, we could use the tax revenue to lower property taxes, but this isn’t the case. The money brought in from casinos would only fund the bureaucracies that would be created around them. They are not a solution for Texas.

Texans want:

• A state that preserves its foundational values and legal system

• Real, lasting property tax relief

• Protection from policies that could harm families and communities

Texas Family Project will continue to take these voices back to leaders across the state. Ultimately, the future of Texas shouldn’t be decided behind closed doors; it should be shaped by the people who call it home.