The issues Texans care about most as a new legislative session begins

AUSTIN - A new session of the Texas Legislature is now underway and members are looking to tackle several issues facing the Lone Star State.

Texas voters were asked by the UT/Texas Politics Project what they think lawmakers should focus on during the new session, and they gave a range of answers.

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Texas Legislature: School vouchers, cannabis, the border and other key issues this session

The 89th Legislature begins in Austin on Jan. 14. Lawmakers will have several key issues to address when they return.

Immigration, economy remain top issues for Texans

By the numbers:

The University of Texas and the Texas Politics Project asked Texans an open-ended question about what should be the top issue for lawmakers.

Only two responses, immigration and the economy, were mentioned by more than 10 percent of voters.

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Immigration was the top issue on the minds of 22 percent of voters and 16 percent of respondents talked about the economy.

Public education, crime, property taxes, healthcare, abortion and energy were also among the top responses.

Among Republicans, 37 percent thought that immigration should be the top priority.

Democrats ranked the economy as its top issue.

(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Is Texas headed in the right direction?

By the numbers:

The poll also asked Texas voters how they felt about the state in general.

47 percent of respondents said they believe the state is headed in the right direction, the highest since Feb. 2020.

38 percent said they believe the state is on the wrong track.