On January 14, 2025, the regular session of the 89th Congress will adjourn and remain in session until June 2. Republicans control both the Texas House and Senate after another painful election for Democrats in November.
But the question of who will swing the big gavel before the 140-day legislative session begins is still undecided. House Speaker Dade Phelan currently faces a challenge from Mansfield Republican David Cook. Phelan insists he has the votes, including strong support from Democrats.
Key state Republicans are seeking to block Mr. Phelan’s re-election as speaker and end the independence of the Texas House of Representatives.
Still, the Legislature appears to be moving further to the right after several moderate Republican state legislators lost their primaries and were replaced by candidates loyal to Gov. Greg Abbott.
This means that school vouchers are likely to be passed and, as a result, state money will likely end up paying private school tuition. There are also calls for a media law that would allow more Christian religious education in public schools, as well as greater powers to ban books deemed “sexually explicit” from school libraries.
House Bill 196, by Rep. Kodi Sane Vasut, would require schools to teach that “human life begins at conception and has inherent dignity and immense value from that moment.”
The state budget is expected to have a surplus of $20 billion, according to State Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Education advocates hope some of that money will increase funding for public schools. But efforts to lower property taxes for homeowners continue. Mr. Abbott has vowed to completely eliminate property taxes in Texas.
Following the lead of President-elect Donald Trump, Republicans are expected to further crack down on immigration and border security.
House Bill 354, sponsored by Representative Briscoe Cain, proposes creating a state border patrol agency called the Texas Border Patrol Agency. He would be responsible for apprehending people who cross the Texas-Mexico border illegally and maintaining border security infrastructure, including Texas border wall segments, buoys, and miles of razor wire along the Rio Grande. .
Ending abortion has always been on the Republican-controlled Congress’ agenda, and this Congress is no different, even after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Republican Rep. Steve Toth introduced HB 1004, which would give the Texas Attorney General the power to prosecute abortion- and election-related crimes.
guest:
Scott Braddock is editor of The Quorum Report and host of the Texas Take podcast.
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*This interview will be recorded on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.
