Gov. Greg Abbott yesterday called for property tax relief and increasing teacher pay while again pressuring Texas lawmakers to approve a measure that would give families public school money for private education.

Why it matters: The State of the State speech — given by the governor every legislative session — is seen as a chance for Abbott to set the tone for the session and lay out what he sees as the top issues for the Legislature.

• It's also an opportunity for Abbott to plot a conservative agenda ahead of his reelection campaign in 2026.

What they're saying: Speaking from Austin-based Arnold Oil Company, Abbott pointed to Texas as a model for business and economic success.

• "Texas is the blueprint for the future of America," he told the crowd of lawmakers, Texas Supreme Court justices and business leaders.

Catch up quick: Abbott last year spent millions to oust 11 Republican lawmakers who voted against school vouchers. The program would give some families state money to pay for private schooling and homeschooling, but critics say it would cut into public school funding and enrollment.

• Abbott he says he has 79 "hardcore school choice proponents" in the House, which would give him the votes he needs to approve the legislation.
• "Government-mandated schools cannot meet the unique needs of every student," Abbott said Sunday. "We will continue to fully fund public schools and raise teacher pay, while also giving parents the choice they deserve."

The big picture: Abbott used his remarks to narrow in on seven emergency items, including property tax relief, schools, crime, water infrastructure and cybersecurity.

• Emergency items allow lawmakers to fast-track bills during the 140-day session.

The other side: The Texas Democratic Party delivered a pre-recorded rebuttal following the governor's speech, featuring "working, everyday Texans" rather than lawmakers.

• Dallas OB-GYN Austin Dennard, who sued Texas over the state's abortion ban, spoke in the video about traveling outside the state to receive an abortion when she learned her fetus would not survive.
• "Because of the abortion laws in our state, medical providers are afraid to provide basic reproductive health care," she said.

More of Abbott's top priorities

A larger share of Austin-area rental listings in 2024 offered concessions — like a free month of rent, waived application and pet fees, free parking, utility discounts and event gift cards, according to a new Zillow report.

Why it matters: Concessions may be a marketing tactic, but they also help ease renters' financial burden.

The big picture: We can thank the multifamily construction boom for these deals, Zillow economist Kara Ng tells Axios. Renters have plenty of apartments to choose from, so property managers need ways to win them over.

Zoom in: The concessions are playing out against a rents have fallen in Austin.

Case in point: The Bell Southpark, just west of I-35 in South Austin, is offering four weeks' free rent for new sign-ups.

What they're saying: "If a property's not offering specials, they won't even look at it," Alissa Simino, an apartment locator with AptAmigo in Austin, said of her clients in an interview with the American-Statesman in December. "With all the new apartment units coming online, there's a plethora of options."

Stunning stat: A household with a median Austin income spent, on average, 19.6% of its money on rent in December — far below the 29.3% of income median households pay nationally, and the lowest in the country.

🏈 Arch Manning, headed for the starting quarterback job at the University of Texas, is featured in an advertisement for Red Bull in which he appears to throw a football into the air, sip some Red Bull, make the catch and throw the ball through a bull's-eye target. (A-to-Z Sports)

💰 Speaking of UT sports, the Longhorns have struck a multiyear deal with Pennsylvania-based retailer Dick's Sporting Goods as the university's official sporting goods partner. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

• Axios has filed a public information request to obtain the contract terms.

💾 Google is opening its first retail store in Texas at the Domain. (KVUE)

Quote du jour

"They say the dead don't rest until they have a marker, and so I think a lot of people here finally found some peace."

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Here are our tips this lovely week.

Monday

🎷 Groove to the Bebop Bounty Big Band as it plays along to the anime series Cowboy Bebop on the Paramount big screen. Show at 8pm. Tickets start at $30.

Tuesday

🐲 Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Umlauf, with a live gong meditation, music from Audio Telepathy and a glow-in-the-dark performance by the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team. 6-8pm, $12 for non-members.

Wednesday

🎬 Catch the 1959 Japanese film "Floating Weeds," about the return of the head of a Japanese theatre troupe to a small coastal town where he left behind a son. 6pm at AFS Cinema. $13.50.

Thursday

🇲🇽 Admire the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández at the Long Center. 7:30pm, tickets start at $39 for adults, $24 for students.