Gavel to Gavel 89th Legislative Session - January 31, 2025

While the Texas House of Representatives awaits the release of Committee assignments, likely next week, the Texas Senate is at work spinning the machinations of the legislative process. The Senate Committees on Senate Finance and Education K-16 both held lengthy initial hearings this week on SB 1 (General Appropriations Act) and SB 2 (Education Savings Accounts), respectively.  Senate Finance heard testimony from the first of many state agencies and will continue hearings next week, beginning with Article II, Health and Human Services, and closing out the week with Article III, Public Education and Higher Education. 
 
On Wednesday, January 29th, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick released a statement listing the first 25 of his 40 priority bills for the 2025 Legislative Session. That statement can be found here. A key part of Governor Patrick's agenda - SB 2 - Providing School Choice, establishing a school voucher program - is headed to the Senate floor. After an 8-hour hearing in the Senate Committee on Education K-16, SB 2 was voted out of committee on a party-line vote. The bill is now on the Senate Calendar for February 4th, where Governor Abbott names school choice an emergency legislative item.
 
On Sunday, February 2nd, at 5 PM, Governor Greg Abbott will hold his State of the State address, not on the House floor, but at a business in Southeast Austin, during which his legislative priorities and emergency items will be announced. Per the Texas Constitution, the Governor's emergency items are the only legislation that can be passed by the Legislature in the first 60 days of session.
 
The Texas Senate stands adjourned until 10:00 AM on Monday, February 2nd, and the Texas House until 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 3rd.