Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week:
Bill Filing Deadline
Today is the 60th day of the regular session. 80 more to go.
Today is the last day that members can file legislation in the House and Senate. As of now, there have been over 5,400 House bills filed and over 2,300 Senate bills filed. The deadline to file is 6PM today, and it is expected that we will eventually see over 6,000 bills filed in the House and nearly 3,000 in the Senate. In the end, expect about 1,500 of the 9,000 to pass.
House Committee Hears Voucher Proposal
The House Public Education Committee heard House Bill 3 on Tuesday, the proposal to establish Education Savings Accounts – vouchers – and drew nearly 300 people that testified in person and over 700 that registered a position on the legislation. The hearing lasted through the night, finally adjourning at 6:30AM – after starting at 8AM the previous day.
Witnesses opposed to the legislation cautioned that shifting public funds to private schools could lead to teacher layoffs and economic decline, especially in rural areas. Additionally, concerns about the bill’s long-term consequences were reinforced by education expert Dr. Josh Cowen of Michigan State University, who previously supported similar initiatives but now warns of their failure. Opposition has also emerged among conservative activists that are highlighting the intra-party contentions about vouchers. Several conservative activists testified against the bill arguing that it contradicts party foundations such as limited-government principles. The supporters of the bill also faced accusations of political influence, as many testimonies pointed out significant campaign contributions tied to school voucher advocates. This is based on the contributions to Governor Abbott by pro-voucher businessman Jeff Yass of Pennsylvania who has contributed over $10 million to the Abbott campaign over the past year to help unseat Republican House members opposed to voucher legislation.
Tensions flared during the hearing as disputes over campaign financing and personal credibility overshadowed policy discussions, particularly in exchanges between committee members and public speakers. The invited witness testimony did not begin until three hours into the hearing and public testimony did not begin until almost 12 hours after the hearing started.
The committee has left HB 3 pending for the time being, with the possibility of a vote next Tuesday. The Senate’s companion bill, SB 2, was passed approximately a month ago. However, historically, Education Savings Account (ESA) proposals have advanced through the Senate, only to face defeat in the House. Governor Abbott has invested significant effort in unseating representatives who previously opposed school vouchers, yet tensions remain high, suggesting that this is merely the beginning of a prolonged legislative battle.
House Republicans Take Stance on Casino Gaming
Twelve GOP freshmen and three returning lawmakers sent a letter to House State Affairs Chairman Ken King this week stating they will reject any gaming proposals – casino gaming or sports betting — considered by his committee this session.
Last session, a sports betting proposal cleared the House with 101 votes, while the casino measure fell a few votes shy of passage. Any expansion of gaming in Texas requires a voter approved constitutional amendment that must first pass each legislative chamber by a two-thirds vote – meaning 100 votes in the House. Neither proposal received consideration in the Texas Senate.
Of the new members that signed the letter, their predecessors voted last session to approve the gaming measures. With the vote so close last time, the loss of at least 10 members signals certain failure for the casino and sports betting proposals.
Rep. Charlie Geren has filed a proposal to bring casino gaming to Texas, and Rep. Sam Harless has filed a proposal to authorize sports betting.
Border News – ICE Makes 640 Arrests In Houston Area
A large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Houston area concluded this past weekend, resulting in the arrest of more than 640 individuals, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation, which began in late February, targeted individuals allegedly in the country without permission, with approximately 550 facing criminal charges. ICE officials stated the effort aimed to enhance public safety and border security.
During the operation, law enforcement executed 71 warrants, detaining 543 undocumented individuals with criminal charges or convictions, as well as seven alleged gang members. The charges against those arrested included offenses such as homicide, aggravated assault, domestic violence, sex crimes, firearms violations, narcotics offenses, property crimes, and driving while intoxicated. However, officials did not disclose specific details about the individuals arrested or how the gang affiliations were determined.
Federal authorities also noted that nearly 100 of those arrested were not charged with crimes. The operation coincides with broader immigration enforcement efforts. Former Trump administration official, Tom Homan, suggested that future crackdowns could target employers who hire undocumented workers, potentially leading to severe fines and deportations. ICE officials emphasized the collaborative nature of the operation with local and federal law enforcement, arguing that it was part of an ongoing effort to improve public safety in the Texas Gulf Coast region.
Hegar Named Chancellor of Texas A&M System
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has been named as the sole finalist to lead the Texas A&M University System, set to assume his new role on July 1st. He replaces John Sharp, who is retiring after 14 years leading the system. Hegar’s departure will create a vacancy in the comptroller’s office, one for which Gov. Greg Abbott may appoint a replacement in advance of the 2026 statewide elections. This could create a turnover in several of the statewide offices – unchanged over the last decade — that are up for reelection in 2026. Gov. Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick have already indicated they will seek reelection. But the down ballot statewide offices could see a substantial shift.
Immediately after the appointment of Hegar, Christi Craddick, chair of the Texas Railroad Commission, announced her campaign for comptroller. She has served on the commission since 2012, overseeing Texas’ oil and gas industry. Craddick was re-elected to a six-year term in November and therefore will not have to leave her current position to run.
At the same time, former Texas state senator and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines also entered the race, pledging to eliminate waste and put savings toward property tax relief. Huffines referenced “DOGE” in his campaign announcement, promising to eliminate fraud and waste in the Texas government. Huffines is a businessman and GOP donor and spent more than $10 million on his unsuccessful campaign against incumbent Governor Abbott in the 2022 Republican primary. He represented a Dallas district in the Texas Senate for one four-year term before he was defeated by Democrat Nathan Johnson in 2018.
In addition to Comptroller, the Attorney General’s office may have a vacancy should incumbent AG Ken Paxton follow through on his thought to challenge incumbent US Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary.
Others currently in the political arena who may take advantage of the openings in the statewide offices are state Senators Bryan Hughes, Brandon Creighton and Mayes Middleton – all attorneys who could seek the AG position; state Sen. Paul Bettencourt – a former Harris County Tax Assessor Collector who could show interest in the Comptrollers office; and Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who has not been shy about her interest in moving up the statewide ladder.
Telework for State Employees to End
Texas state agency leaders are instructing employees to return to the office full-time following a directive from Governor Greg Abbott’s office to end telework policies. Emails from agency directors, including those at the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and Texas Health and Human Services Commission, have informed employees they must return by March 31, 2025. The sudden mandate has caused disruption, as agencies must now accommodate thousands of returning employees, some in offices that have been downsized due to cut costs.
Abbott’s directive follows former President Donald Trump’s January executive order requiring federal workers to end remote work. While Abbott’s press secretary linked the decision to Trump’s mandate, details on enforcement and potential penalties remain unclear. Some state employees have expressed a fear of retaliation for voicing concerns. Texas has 114 state agencies employing approximately 141,000 workers, with many of them having adopted remote work policies in recent years.
Hurricane Outlook
Hurricane season starts June 1st, and with the damage and destruction caused by Beryl last year, state officials are trying to be more diligent and prepared. Beryl caused widespread power outages that lasted up to three weeks in some areas of Houston and Harris County, leading to substantial changes in requirements for preparations that must be made by electric and energy supply companies.
Early projections for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season suggest a near-average level of storm activity. A Colorado State University meteorologist reported anticipating around 12 named storms, five hurricanes, and an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index at 90% of normal. On average, a typical hurricane season consists of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes. While these forecasts provide initial insight, official projections from NOAA and CSU are expected in April and May.
In 2024, record-breaking Atlantic Ocean warmth and favorable wind patterns fueled an above-average hurricane season. However, in 2025, early indicators suggest a transition to more neutral conditions. This neutral state, combined with near-normal Atlantic temperatures and positive pressure anomalies in the Gulf of Mexico, could limit storm intensity and frequency compared to previous years.
Political Notes
Former House Speaker Dade Phelan – now a member of the House State Affairs Committee – laid out HB 366 in front of the committee this week. The bill is aimed at limiting the power of generative artificial intelligence or “deep fakes” in political advertisement campaigns. A deep fake is a photo, video, audio, or some combination of the three which is edited or generated using artificial intelligence tools to alter its content. Phelan’s bill requires any individual or organization using these images to place a disclaimer – stating the this did not occur in reality — on the advertisement informing the reader that the images are fake or AI generated. The Texas Senate has a similar measure, as lawmakers are expected to crack down on the rampant use of fake and AI generated imagery in campaign materials.
The sister of Amy Specialist Vanessa Guillen – killed at Fort Cavazos in 2020 – will challenge incumbent US Congressman Al Green of Houston in 2026. Mayra Guillen – who has never held political office – has become an outspoken advocate for reform of the military’s handling of sexual harassment and assault incidents. The Guillen family has been publicly supportive of President Trump on social media, but Mayra Guillen has not said whether she will challenge Green as a Democrat or Republican. The district Green represents is a solidly Democratic district based in Houston.
What’s Next??
The Senate has recessed until 2PM on Monday to refer bills and then they will adjourn until 11AM Tuesday.
The House is at ease until 1PM today for bill referrals and then will adjourn until Tuesday at 10AM.
A listing of all committee hearings can be found here: https://www.legis.state.tx.us