After several weeks with Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows in his new role, the House has committee assignments doled out and lawmakers can start hearing bills.
New House rules dictate that only Republicans can chair committees, and only Democrats can hold vice chairs roles.
Particular attention was on the appointment of the Public Education Committee, since that lawmaker will be responsible for shepherding Abbott’s school voucher priority through the House.
Blaise Gainey, who covers state politics for the Texas Newsroom, said Rep. Brad Buckley, a Republican from Salado, kept his spot at the head of that committee.
“People thought a lot of change would happen with who would be the chairs of these committees. Most of them stayed either the same or changed a little bit,” Gainey said. “Ultimately Republican members are the chairs of every committee. Now, the subcommittees, some of those have Democrat chairs because the rules did not apply…. That was a surprise to some.”
Gainey said Buckley was vocally pro-school choice last session in 2023.
“But I think the governor will actually be excited because Texas Rep. Brad Buckley is behind the voucher or the school choice bill,” Gainey said. “He tried to push it through last time around – this time around, with more numbers in their favor, I think it will get through.”
Gainey said school vouchers are not on the agenda this week yet, but the House could still decide to take it up later this week.
“Today they’re off for President’s Day, so it won’t happen today,” he said. “They could meet tomorrow during the floor session and schedule for the education committee to take up a bill this week. I don’t think one has been filed yet, but that doesn’t mean they can’t file it.”
This week, the House will be hearing from state agencies about budget requests — just like the Senate did in the first few weeks after their committee assignments were finalized.
» GET MORE NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE: Sign up for Texas Standard’s weekly newsletters
“There’ll be different state government agencies coming in and telling lawmakers exactly how much money they want and the things that they need it for,” Gainey said.
“(The budget is) not the first thing that they necessarily have to pass. But they do need to get started on that because that’s the only thing that they have to pass through the actual session. I mean, the state has to have a budget.”
Gainey said he also expects House lawmakers to take up the governor’s emergency items shortly. This includes school choice but also property tax relief and other topics the governor laid out in his state of the state address.
“These aren’t a requirement that they pass them, but it shows good faith if they at least make some action on those before the 60-day limit is up — (at which point) they can actually pass other bills that aren’t part of these emergency items,” he said.
