Gavel to Gavel 89th Legislative Session - January 24, 2025

Legislative activities were delayed slightly this week due to inclement weather, but picked up quickly when members returned on Wednesday. The release of the House and Senate’s introduced version of the appropriations bill provided a glimpse into spending priorities for both Chambers. In general, spending levels and appropriations for priorities are similar between the Chambers. SB 1 appropriates a total of $234.4 billion in State Funds, representing a 4.3% increase from the previous biennium and $332.9 billion in All Funds, a zero increase in overall spending from 2024-25. HB 1 appropriates $237.7 billion in State Funds, representing a 5.6% increase from the previous biennium, and $335.8 billion in All Funds. Both bills make substantial investments in long-term projects such as property tax relief, public education, public safety, border security, and infrastructure. Furthermore, the Chambers outlined their respective items to be included in the supplemental appropriations bill, which, again, are similar but reflect each Chamber’s priorities. For more information on the introduced budgets, supplemental spending items, and bill summaries, please click on the links below:
· House

· Senate

Senate Finance hearings will begin next week, starting on Monday, through Friday, February 14th. A schedule for the Committee can be found here.

On Thursday, the Texas House of Representatives voted to adopt their Rules of Procedure, the much talked about but much less read, guidelines that dictate the rules of engagement for everyone from the Speaker to the Doorkeeper. The draft document was sent to Member’s inbox early Thursday morning, shortly after 4:00 a.m., giving members 10 hours to discuss and draft amendments.

After a lengthy layout by Representative Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) and questions from members of both parties, Representative Jared Patterson (R-Frisco) made a motion to call the previous question, an archaic term to halt debate and call for a final vote, before any amendments had been offered to debate. The rule requires only 25 signatures for a vote on the motion, but Rep. Patterson had accrued well over 70 signatures. The motion passed, 107-35 and the final vote on the House Rules of Procedure was 116-23.

What this means: The previous question is rarely used more than one time a session in the House, typically on politically charged issues and often referred to as the “nuclear option.” Speaker Burrows will now have a motivated opposition from his right-flanking colleagues for the next 130 days and they will no doubt spend the rest of their Session working against House leadership.

The House Rules of Procedure can be found here. Under the rules, there will be no Committee Chairs from the minority party but will instead serve as Vice Chairs. The following committees were abolished: Urban Affairs, Homeland Security and Public Safety, Resolutions, International Relations and Economic Development, Business & Industry, County Affairs, Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, and Defense and Veteran Affairs. Two new committees were created: Delivery of Government Efficiency, and Intergovernmental Relations. Furthermore, the House rules created permanent standing committees which are absorbing a number of the oversight responsibilities from committees that were abolished.

Below is a chart that contrasts the previous Standing Committees of the 88th Legislature to the new committees of the 89th Legislature.

House members must submit their Committee Preference Cards to the Speaker’s office by Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.

The House adjourned until Monday, January 27th, at 4:00 p.m. The Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, January 28th, at 11:00 a.m.