Gavel to Gavel 89th Legislative Session - February 7, 2025

On Sunday, February 2nd, Governor Greg Abbott delivered his “State of State” address, announcing his priorities for the 89th Legislature.  His remarks outlined seven “Emergency Items,” which are the only bills that legislators can constitutionally act upon within the first sixty days of session. Gov. Abbott's Emergency Items are:

• Property tax relief (including preventing municipalities from raising property taxes more than 10% without a vote)

• Water supply investments

• Increasing teacher pay

• Expanding career training

• Private school vouchers

• Bail reform, and

• Strengthening cybersecurity

You can read the full address here.

The Texas Senate passed SB 2, establishing publicly-funded education savings accounts, by a 19-12 vote on Wednesday, February 5th. SB 2 is now headed to the House, where it is expected to undergo substantial debate and modification. House lawmakers will get to work subsequent to the release of committee assignments, which Speaker Dustin Burrows noted will 'probably' be released next Thursday.
 
The Speaker's office announced the last of his policy staff additions on Monday, accessible here.
 
Additionally, the permanent officers for the House were announced.  The full list of officers is available here.
 
Senate Finance hearings will conclude next week, followed by the committee splitting into work groups.
 
And, continuing a time-honored tradition of team building and collegiality, the House freshman members squared off against the veterans in a game of touch football on Tuesday, February 4th.  This year, the new ones beat the old ones by a score of 30 to 24.  Thankfully only one legislator was injured – thereby continuing another time-honor tradition of lawmakers hurting themselves in the House football game. 
 
The House will reconvene on Tuesday, February 11th at 2:00 p.m. and the Senate will return on Tuesday as well at 11:00 a.m.