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The Blast: No happy hour for senators debating ESAs [1]
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Date: 2025-02
Feb 5, 2025 | View in browser
By Renzo Downey and The Texas Tribune Politics Team
30 days until SXSW begins
37 days until the 60-day bill filing deadline
117 days until sine die
Senate Bill 2 on the floor The first floor debate of the 89th legislative session is currently underway, but while it’s the longest floor session yet, it could’ve been longer.
Senators have filed at least 40 amendments to Senate Bill 2, the chamber’s bill for education savings accounts.
“Set your clock for 4 a.m. this morning, so don’t plan dinner,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said after doing some pencil math on the dais.
However, the Senate seemed to be rolling through amendments fairly quickly. Senators will likely miss happy hour, but they could have plenty of time for a late dinner.
The Senate took up the bill at 12:37 p.m. They didn’t move to amendments till 4:18 p.m. An hour later, the Senate was on amendment 15.
Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and Senate Minority Leader Carol Alvarado of Houston have led most of the dissenting debate to the bill.
Despite all the debate to come, the Senate is expected to pass the bill along party lines, 20-11.
SB 2 is the first bill on the chamber floor for the 89th legislative session. Patrick cued it up first after Gov. Greg Abbott announced “school choice” as an emergency item this session.
One amendment to watch for would add a trigger provision to keep undocumented students from using ESAs. That provision would be triggered if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Plyler v. Doe, which guarantees students access to public education regardless of immigration status. Education K-16 Committee Chair Brandon Creighton, the Conroe Republican who authored SB 2, said during the bill’s committee hearing that he expects to file that amendment.
Debate on that amendment would turn the ESA debate into an immigration debate that could take hours alone. However, there’s a desire to pass a clean piece of legislation to make it as palatable for the House as possible.
The House is where the real debate will happen on ESAs. Abbott says he now has the votes to pass it in the House, but the big question is how expansive of an ESA bill could pass that chamber.
One member to watch is Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney. Bell opposed the final ESA bill of 2023, but Abbott did not back his primary challenger. Bell joined Abbott in Athens last night for a “parent empowerment night.” Last year, Bell signed the Texas Conservative Commitment, a pledge that included “parent empowerment” to “pass universal school choice.”
Bell declined to clarify his position on ESAs today when asked by the Tribune.
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House committee assignments maybe late this week, likely next The people know what they want: House committee assignments.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows spoke to members of the Midland-Odessa business community on Tuesday to kick off the region’s legislative days events. After Burrows’ spiel about the importance of the Permian Basin and priorities for the session, the very first question in the audience Q&A asked when to expect committee assignments.
“It is possible, but unlikely, late this week, probably next week, we’ll have committee assignments,” Burrows said.
In his speech, the Lubbock Republican had defended the timeline, saying it takes a bit longer for the House to get organized. The Senate has 31 senators to the House’s 150 members. Burrows noted he’d met with 148 members so far.
“The rules provide that you have to go through a long process of establishing seniority, and you’ve got to meet with everybody,” Burrows later added. “We’ve been working feverishly to get it done, but it’ll be sooner than later.”
However, some critics feel the House is already on the later side of things. Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, yesterday lambasted the House and Senate’s agreement to adjourn for a long weekend as “operation run out the clock.”
Without committee assignments, the House can’t refer bills to committees. Without bills getting referred to committees, lobbyists and interests can’t know for certain which members they need to talk to to pitch their bills.
As of yesterday, House members had filed 2,243 bills and senators had filed 1,064 bills. By the same point in the 2023 session, House members had filed 1,751 bills and senators had filed 637 bills. House members and senators are filing more bills than in 2023, but senators have a greater share of the bills this year.
The sentiment that the House is dragging its feet isn’t new this session, but it feels heightened. That doesn’t mean it’s true that committee assignments are later than usual.
If Burrows announces his committee assignments next week, he’d be in line with how long it has taken speakers since Joe Straus to fill out the roster. In fact, if Burrows were to file them on Tuesday, he’d beat the timing of Dade Phelan’s assignments last session.
Here’s how the timing has worked the past 30 years:
Apart from the hounding from Harrison and others that has brought particular attention to committee assignments this year, a few factors make it seem particularly late: This year, the first day of session — the second Tuesday in January — fell on the last day possible, shifting the session later in the calendar than people are used to.
In mid-November, in the final days of his speaker campaign, Phelan announced plans to issue committee assignments “earlier than in previous sessions.”
Gov. Greg Abbott has now announced his emergency items, signaling the beginning of the next phase of session. Burrows is also up against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who announced the Senate’s committee assignments on the fourth day of session.
There are another few factors preventing Burrows from hitting Phelan’s goal for earlier assignments: Burrows didn’t lock up the speaker’s race until the first day of session. In 2009, Tom Craddick bowed out of the speaker’s race about a week before the floor vote, meaning Straus didn’t lock down the gavel until relatively late. That year, he filed committee assignments on the 31st day of session.
bowed out of the speaker’s race about a week before the floor vote, meaning Straus didn’t lock down the gavel until relatively late. That year, he filed committee assignments on the 31st day of session. The House also didn’t settle on the House rules until the 10th day of session, the first time since 2013 that the House didn’t adopt its rules in the first three days of session. The rules significantly restructured committees.
President Donald Trump’s inauguration and the following cold snap put a freeze on legislative proceedings for a few days. All that’s to say, it would be a miracle if Burrows announces committee assignments this week.
Although committee assignments could make for a good Friday news dump, in the past 30 years, no speaker has released assignments on a Friday. Here’s to hoping.
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Dispatch from the SREC meeting For weeks, we’ve eagerly waited to see if Texas GOP leaders would make good on their vows to censure Republicans who voted for House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a move that would potentially upend the party’s primaries and prompt an acrimonious legal battle between the GOP’s warring factions.
It looks like we’ll have to keep waiting.
On Monday, members of the State Republican Executive Committee met for the first time since Burrows’ election. Many expected retribution — for the party brass to pursue censures that, under new rules, could bar lawmakers who supported Burrows from appearing in GOP primaries.
Not quite. The SREC did send guidance to county-level parties on if or how to pursue censures. Members approved a resolution thanking lawmakers who supported Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, in his challenge to Burrows. And they passed a resolution condemning members who voted in favor of Frisco Rep. Jared Patterson’s bipartisan motion to end debate during the rules vote on the House floor two weeks ago — a move that has infuriated some Republicans and, as a result of the SREC’s Monday vote, is now a censurable offense.
More than anything, though, the SREC proved that, much like the party it leads, there is a very clear split on where to go next. Some wanted vengeance, calling for the party to excise traitors and RINOs from its ranks. Others begged for peace, arguing that escalating the party’s ongoing civil war could jeopardize legislation and further deepen schisms. Even the resolution thanking Cook supporters was contentious — did we mention they debated it for two hours?
As the meeting winded down — after nearly four hours! — the frustration was palpable. “That’s four hours of my life I’ll never get back,” SREC member Rolando Garcia wrote on social media, adding that he needed a drink.
But the drama is far from over. Under Texas GOP rules, censures can only be levied if someone violates the party platform preamble or legislative priorities three times in one term, after which they are barred from appearing on a GOP primary ballot for two years. But the legislative session has only just begun, and the message sent to lawmakers from some on the SREC was clear: “We are watching you — closely.”
— Robert Downen
HIDDEN IMAGE This week: The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow and Friday to consider Senate Bill 1, the budget. Next week: The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday to consider public education funding in SB 1.
The Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. on Monday.
The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to consider natural resources funding in SB 1.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Wednesday to consider five measures, including the bail reform measures.
The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 11 a.m. or upon adjournment on Wednesday to consider business and economic development funding in SB 1.
The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday to consider regulatory agency funding and general provisions in SB 1.
The Senate Finance Committee may meet at 9 a.m. on Friday. View the list of upcoming meeting notices here.
The House will convene at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
The Senate has not adjourned but is expected to adjourn until Tuesday.
House Bill 8, signed into law in 2023, transformed community college funding in Texas to better meet student needs and address workforce demands. More than a year later, how are Texas community colleges faring? We’ll talk with community college administrators, students and other stakeholders about the impact they’re seeing on enrollment and academic outcomes, changes to programs like free tuition initiatives, dual credit programs and transfer incentives, and the challenges and opportunities they anticipate in the future. Doors open at Texas Woman’s University in Denton at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, and the one-hour event begins at noon. Lunch is provided. RSVP today
HIDDEN IMAGE Rep. Hillary Hickland , R-Belton, was the freshman MVP from last night’s high-scoring House member football game. Freshman coach Jeff Barry , R-Pearland, told The Blast she didn’t come to practice but proved she could catch, run and play aggressive defense. Veteran coach Oscar Longoria , D-Mission, named Rep. Josey Garcia , D-San Antonio, their losing team’s MVP.
, R-Belton, was the freshman MVP from last night’s high-scoring House member football game. Freshman coach , R-Pearland, told The Blast she didn’t come to practice but proved she could catch, run and play aggressive defense. Veteran coach , D-Mission, named Rep. , D-San Antonio, their losing team’s MVP. Freshman Wes Virdell , R-Brady, injured his shoulder in the game, and veteran Briscoe Cain , R-Deer Park, scuffed up his face when attempting a touchdown.
, R-Brady, injured his shoulder in the game, and veteran , R-Deer Park, scuffed up his face when attempting a touchdown. Beard watch: Former House Speaker Dade Phelan , R-Beaumont, was rocking a heavy shadow on the House floor this week. It seems premature to call it a full beard, but it’s the beginning of one.
, R-Beaumont, was rocking a heavy shadow on the House floor this week. It seems premature to call it a full beard, but it’s the beginning of one. Freshman Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons , D-Houston, carried House Resolution 161, which congratulated Beyoncé on winning album of the year, country album of the year and best country duo/group performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Beyoncé’s mom used to do Rowlett Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers ’ hair before Beyoncé became famous. However, Rep. Brian Harrison , R-Midlothian, caused a stir when he objected to suspending the rules to adopt the resolution. Speaker Dustin Burrows conveniently didn’t hear Harrison’s objection.
, D-Houston, carried House Resolution 161, which congratulated on winning album of the year, country album of the year and best country duo/group performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Beyoncé’s mom used to do Rowlett Rep. ’ hair before Beyoncé became famous. However, Rep. , R-Midlothian, caused a stir when he objected to suspending the rules to adopt the resolution. Speaker conveniently didn’t hear Harrison’s objection. The House today recognized Texas native Steve McMichael for being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year. Although he never played professionally in Texas, “Mongo” played at Freer High School and was a unanimous All-American at the University of Texas at Austin.
for being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year. Although he never played professionally in Texas, “Mongo” played at Freer High School and was a unanimous All-American at the University of Texas at Austin. Protesters gathered on the south Capitol steps to oppose President Donald Trump and Elon Musk could be heard in the Senate chamber during the first several hours of debate on Senate Bill 2.
HIDDEN IMAGE U.S. Rep. Al Green , D-Houston, is back at it. He said he will file articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump today over his recent comments about Gaza.
, D-Houston, is back at it. He said he will file articles of impeachment against President today over his recent comments about Gaza. Gov. Greg Abbott was in Washington today as Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports. Abbott says he will be back in Washington next week to ask Congress to reimburse Texas with $11 billion for Operation Lone Star.
was in Washington today as Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports. Abbott says he will be back in Washington next week to ask Congress to reimburse Texas with $11 billion for Operation Lone Star. The U.S. Senate today confirmed former state Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HIDDEN IMAGE Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan , R-Beaumont, will sit down with Evan Smith at the LBJ School tomorrow at noon.
, R-Beaumont, will sit down with at the LBJ School tomorrow at noon. Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a “parent empowerment night” tomorrow in Edinburg with state Rep. Janie Lopez, R-San Benito.
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HIDDEN IMAGE The entire Current Revolt feed from Monday’s State Republican Executive Committee meeting, including this highlight: HIDDEN IMAGE
HIDDEN IMAGE Do you or someone in your office have a birthday you’d like mentioned? Email us.
Belated
(Feb. 4) State Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway
SPONSOR MESSAGES Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce - Engage with Texas’s most influential leaders, gain insights on critical issues, expand your network and celebrate excellence at the 59th annual Texas Legislative Conference in New Braunfels, Texas. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is committed to health equity—striving to create more fair and just opportunities for all to thrive. Free Press - Bari Weiss, Adam Carolla coming to Austin for a debate on February 27 at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets: thefp.pub/debate. Texas Tech University - Out here, we're ALL IN. The work we do, and the impact it makes, will go ON & ON.
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