SAN ANTONIO — Gov. Greg Abbott met with law enforcement officials and mothers who have lost children to fentanyl Tuesday, highlighting the state’s prevention efforts and outlining public safety proposals for the next legislative session.
During the San Antonio visit, Abbott also answered questions about using a $7.5 billion federal reimbursement for property tax relief and a possible border wall in Big Bend.
The roundtable at the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County included families affected by fentanyl and representatives of the awareness group Soles Walking 4 Souls.
“We are attacking the fentanyl crisis at every level, at the border, on our highways, in our communities across Texas,” Abbott said.
Abbott pointed to fentanyl education in schools and a state law allowing murder charges when someone supplies fentanyl that causes another person’s death. He said more than 40 such murder charges had been filed.
He also emphasized educating young people about the risks of fentanyl in other drugs and counterfeit pills.
“However, through our education programs, we’re helping teens, young adults learn about the dangers of fentanyl,” Abbott said.
A mother representing Soles Walking 4 Souls praised the state’s efforts to expand access to Narcan and described the group’s community outreach and annual awareness walk.
Narcan is a brand name for naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses.
The discussion took place during Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month. Families at the event spoke about their children and efforts to prevent other families from experiencing similar losses.
Beyond fentanyl, Abbott said he wants to expand the state’s repeat offender task force statewide and create a state prosecutor position that could intervene when local district attorneys fail to pursue cases against dangerous offenders.
“Next session, I will seek a state prosecutor who will be empowered to step in when rogue district attorneys like that in Travis County fail to indict and prosecute dangerous criminals,” Abbott said.
He also said he would seek a law making district attorneys subject to impeachment.
Abbott criticized his opponent, Gina Hinojosa, accusing her of voting to defund police.
Texas Democratic Party spokesman Jacob Long disputed Abbott’s characterization in a statement responding to the event.
“It’s shameful that he continues to lie about Gina Hinojosa and use law enforcement as a political prop to scare and distract Texans,” Long said.
Long also criticized Abbott’s record on household costs, public schools and crime.
Asked how soon the $7.5 billion federal reimbursement could help provide property tax relief, Abbott said some of the money would support continued border security.
“But a large chunk of it, I believe, should go toward property tax relief,” Abbott said.
He said his proposed tax package would reduce the average Texan’s annual property tax bill by more than $3,000.
“As you know, I’ve outlined a property tax relief package that will cut the average property tax bill of the average Texan by more than $3,000 a year,” Abbott said. “This will help pay for that program.”
Those savings are Abbott’s projection for his proposal. He did not give a timeline for when homeowners could receive the relief.
Asked about preventing a border wall in Big Bend and his conversations with the president, Abbott instead described multiple conversations with the homeland security secretary.
“They are not going to build a wall. They’re not going to build a fence. They’re not going to build a barrier,” Abbott said.
He said the secretary had assured him three times.
Abbott said he would continue meeting with voters across Texas, including stops in Jasper and other locations Wednesday.