Texas
Aligned
Alignment: Texas is one of the most consistently conservative-aligned states in the country. Republican governor Greg Abbott and Republican supermajorities in both legislative chambers have produced landmark conservative legislation across nearly every category we track: abortion (heartbeat law and trigger ban), guns (permitless carry, constitutional carry), school choice (2025 ESA program), border enforcement (Operation Lone Star), election integrity (SB 1, voter ID), religious liberty, and one of the most pro-business tax environments in the nation (no state income tax).
Rating Criteria
| Criterion | Texas Position | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Governor & Legislature | Republican governor (Abbott); GOP supermajority House & Senate | +2 |
| Abortion | Near-total ban (trigger law post-Dobbs) and heartbeat law (SB 8) | +2 |
| Gun Rights | Permitless (“constitutional”) carry since 2021; strong castle doctrine | +2 |
| School Choice | Education Savings Account program passed 2025 ($1B initial funding) | +1 |
| Border / Immigration | Operation Lone Star; SB 4 state-level enforcement authority | +1 |
| Taxes | No state income tax; pro-business regulatory environment | +1 |
| Election Integrity | SB 1 voter ID law; ended drive-thru and 24-hour voting | +1 |
| Religious Liberty | RFRA in effect; Ten Commandments in classrooms bill (2025) | +1 |
| Health Freedom | HB 81 (2023) ended COVID vaccine workplace mandates; HB 44 banned vaccine passports | +1 |
Sources
Final score: 9/9 Aligned. Texas combines unified Republican control with concrete, sustained legislative output across every category we score. Only a perfectly principled across-the-board posture earns the maximum, which Texas demonstrates.