5 Texas Issues Everyone Ignores—But Shouldn’t

Engagement-driven algorithms feed Texans content about abortion, guns, immigration, transgender rights, and whatever crazy thing the politician you don’t like said. 

The aim of this article isn’t to say those issues aren’t important. But the issues that decide whether your lights stay on, your kid’s school stays open, or whether you can afford your mortgage aren’t the ones screaming at you on TikTok. They’re the so-called “boring” issues. The stuff that doesn’t trend on Twitter but quietly eats your paycheck and shapes your life.

Ignoring them comes at a cost. And here’s the kicker: boring issues are where trust can be rebuilt. They remind us that politics is supposed to be about making everyday life better—not just dunking on “the other side” in an endless culture war. 

Let’s dig into the issues that may not be blowing up the timeline, but shape our lives every day

The Recapture Program

If you’ve never heard of Texas’s school finance “recapture” system, you’re not alone. The word “recapture” sounds like it belongs in an IRS manual. It’s buried in spreadsheets, not shouted from podiums. But the recapture system affects everyone in Texas. 

Nicknamed the “Robin Hood” plan, it requires property-wealthy districts to send a portion of their tax revenue to the state, which then redistributes it to property-poor districts.

Critics argue the system is outdated and unfair to the property-wealthy districts—especially as property taxes soar—while supporters say it’s the only way to meet the state Supreme Court’s mandate for more equitable education. 

Either way, this quiet line item in the budget impacts both your kid’s classroom and your property tax bill. And yet, it almost never makes the headlines.

Lawmakers have been trying to tweak the school funding system, including the “recapture” process. SB 4, signed into law this year, reduces the property tax dollars some districts have been sending back to the state.

Water Infrastructure

Pipelines, reservoirs, and groundwater rights don’t make for exciting TV drama. But Texas has a water problem that isn’t going away. 

The state could face a 36% water shortage by 2070, thanks to booming population growth, drought, and aging infrastructure. That means higher costs for families, harder times for farmers, and less reliability in cities where demand is only climbing. It’s not a far-off, hypothetical problem—we already see strains during dry summers and record-breaking heat waves. 

If the taps run dry, all the other issues won’t matter much.

Despite what the news says about Texas politics, this issue did see major bipartisan progress this year. Senate Bill 7 (2025) was passed and signed into law. It dedicates up to $1 billion annually from sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund for 20 years, plus a one-time $2.5 billion allocation. These funds will support new water supplies, upgrade aged pipelines, and help repair water infrastructure statewide.

Property Tax Appraisals

Property valuations are about as thrilling as reading the terms and conditions of your toaster oven. But understanding how they affect you is crucial. 

Texans pay some of the highest property taxes in the country. What’s less common knowledge is how much of that pain comes from the appraisal system itself. 

The problem is that in many fast-growing areas, homes are being appraised at values that feel way above what people could realistically sell for—or at least above what long-time residents can keep up with. That drives up tax bills, even if your income hasn’t gone up.

Homeowners, renters (who absorb the cost in rent), and small businesses all feel it. 

Politicians love to run on “cutting taxes,” but unless the appraisal system is fixed, tax relief is a mirage. That’s why appraisal reform is one of those “boring” fights that matters just as much as the flashy promises.

The 89th legislative session in 2025 increased tax exemptions for homeowners, which could offer some short-term relief, but rising appraisals remain unresolved.  

Rural Hospitals

Small-town hospitals don’t usually make headlines in Dallas or Houston. But Texas leads the nation in rural hospital closures, with nearly 30 shut down since 2010. 

For families in small towns, that can mean the nearest ER is hours away. For the rest of the state, it means urban hospitals are stretched thinner as more patients get transferred in. When local hospitals disappear, entire regions lose access to care for emergencies, maternal health, and basic services. 

Texas House Bill 18, passed in June, establishes a grant program for at-risk rural hospitals. But with ongoing operational costs (staff shortages, supply chain issues, Medicaid reimbursements only covering 82 cents on the dollar), many hospitals warn this is a temporary band-aid rather than a permanent solution.

The Power Grid

For most, discussing transmission lines, reserve margins, and regulatory boards sounds as appealing as listening to someone chew ice during a 2-hour Zoom call.

But fixing the Texas power grid comes with high stakes. Blackouts in 2021 killed hundreds of Texans, and without major upgrades, experts warn it could happen again. 

Reliability isn’t just about comfort; it’s about survival in extreme heat or cold. It’s also about economic freedom: no business, small or large, can thrive in a state where the power grid is always teetering on the edge. 

Keeping the lights on isn’t partisan—it’s the baseline for everything else we want to build.

Senate Bill 6, passed with bipartisan support and currently awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, could be a step in the right direction. Under SB 6, large electricity users (like data centers) must be built with backup generation or be prepared to reduce usage during emergencies.

Why You Should Pay Attention to These Issues

These issues may not be the sexiest, but they quietly shape whether Texas thrives or struggles.

The loudest fights are about identity and culture. But polling shows that Texans—Democrats, Republicans, independents—already agree on practical issues like energy infrastructure and healthcare. These “boring” problems are where surprising alliances form, where solutions are possible, and where wins are shared.

If we can show that left and right are willing to work together on issues most people don’t even realize they agree on, we chip away at the narrative that America is hopelessly divided.

Boring issues = shared wins.

—Alex Buscemi (abuscemi@buildersmovement.org)