Last session approximately 8,530 bills and resolutions were filed. Of those, 1,357 bills actually got to the Governor’s desk that he either signed or allowed to become law without his signature or right at 16%.
So far, around 2,400 bills have been prefiled as of January 6, 2025, for the upcoming session. The final day to file bills is March 14, so there is plenty of time to exceed last year’s total. The subject matter of the bills so far is fairly random, although the majority fall into several predictable categories:
- Healthcare related: 568
- Education/teachers: 375
- Courts/civil matters 259
- Taxation: 216
- Insurance: 108
These numbers are not a complete surprise, as health care and education are the two largest budget items for our state. The taxation number (which includes property tax bills) is lower than I would have thought, but there is plenty of time for that number to increase.
These numbers show that successfully passing a bill and getting it to the Governor’s desk is extremely rare. This session may prove to be even more challenging than usual.
The Speaker’s Race
Much has occurred since last we checked in on the ever-changing race for Texas Speaker of the House. And in this season of giving, like a good “sock of the month club,” for those of us who enjoy speculating, this race is the gift that keeps on giving.
First, we have the current Speaker, who, after a difficult nail biter of a primary and relative quiet through most of the summer, decided to withdraw from the race as head of the Texas House of Representatives. He withdrew, one would assume, because he no longer had the votes. The “whys” of his withdrawal are a mystery, but there are some clues if one looks.
This withdrawal comes after raising considerable amounts of money from supporters and the lobby industry. I wonder if anyone will see any of those funds returned, given, as it were, to someone who was and intended to be the Speaker. We can reserve judgement and give the former Speaker the benefit of the doubt on that and see what happens.
Representative Cook of Mansfield, a relative newcomer to this process, after just being elected to his third term is finding out just how fickle members of the legislature can be. He enjoys the support of a significant number of Republican House members, enough to apparently announce support of the caucus as a whole, but not enough to finish the race successfully, at least not right now.
There are those pesky folks who just won’t go along with what appears to be a slight majority.
Ah, democracy, go figure.
Now we have a newcomer to the game, but only in the sense that he just recently filed paperwork to run for Speaker. Chairman Burrows is a multiterm member from Lubbock who has most recently been chairman of the Calendars committee—clearly a member who understands the power maze through which the Texas House travels. Apparently (according to outside and inside reports) after several votes of the Republican caucus and its inability to reach a successful consensus a significant number of its members walked out of the caucus meeting and decided to contact some of those on the other side of the aisle. This being the Christmas season and the time of miracles, a list is produced containing 76 names (you will remember that is the magic number) supporting that very same current Calendars committee chair, Chairman Dustin Burrows of Lubbock. A press release is produced, a press conference is convened, and a proclamation is put forth, “the race is over, it’s time to work together, etc.”
For about 30 seconds.
Representative Cook (remember him?) also put out a list, while somewhat shorter than the 76 needed, represents a majority of the Republican caucus (just barely). And shockingly, there were some names on both lists. I will leave you to decide the significance of that if any.
Well, this does represent a bit of a pickle. There are still lots of members whose names do not appear on any list. In the past, you either wanted to be one of the first 10 of the winning side or number 71–76.
Those are the keys slots. You have to have a critical mass to begin a Speaker’s race, and then the last few to put you over the top. No one wants to be #83 or #10—those were pretty meaningless slots. But now there seems to be uncertainty in those final spots for Chairman Burrows—much phone calling and promising going on as we speak, I suspect.
The vote for Speaker takes place on the first day of the Legislative Session–January 14 at noon or soon thereafter. That means for the next 8 days, those Republicans who committed to Chairman Burrows can count on being harassed by the local true believers as to why they are not following in lockstep with the Republican party leadership. What was once a truly personal vote by a sitting member has now become fodder for local party leadership to make primary hay with.
Just a reminder: All 150 members get to vote for Speaker, and the winner often has a very long memory.
The contrast is, of course, the other side of the building. Senate leadership is in place and remains virtually unchanged. The only real difference in the Senate are the three new Senators, Senator Cook, Senator Hagenbuch, and Senator Adam Hinojosa. With the leadership intact, we await the Lt. Governor’s committee assignments, which could come at any time. Expect the Senate to hit the ground running and begin hearings fairly quickly. The Lt. Governor runs a very tight ship, and his priorities will begin to move through the process very efficiently.
How the future Speaker deals with the Senate remains to be seen. Even a disorganized House, under smart leadership can control the session and the pace. While the Senate, it is often said has no rules, the House does, and it is the Speaker, with the help of the parliamentarian, who interprets them.
There was a session where a Speaker did not name committees till early March, creating a shorter and even more chaotic session, controlling the pace and what bills ultimately made it to the floor. How the incoming House speaker approaches their dealings with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and the Senate will be the most interesting ticket in town and one that everyone will get to watch. The old saying in the House was “it’s not the opposite party that is the enemy, it’s the Senate.” Old school sentiment that.
Also in play, of course, is the approximate $20 billion surplus recently reported by the Comptroller, which, as has been discussed in these pages before, is not really $20 billion extra. There will be the supplemental appropriation, which is passed early in the session (this will eat up a significant amount of the surplus), the now continuing futile attempts to lower property taxes (remember last session), and whatever deal is reached on vouchers/public school funding (this could be a very large number). Senator Perry’s water initiative ($5 billion requested) and dealing with either the retired teacher/state employee retirement shortfall is on the menu this cycle.
And, of course, there are the current inflation increased obligations that we face with every state budget.
The show starts on January 14, and tickets are free to everyone. Thanks to modern technology everyone with access to a computer can watch almost every minute. Like any good drama there is something for everyone.
Reality TV at it’s finest.
—TWGGA Legislative Advocate Kyle Frazier