89th Texas Legislature

89th Texas Legislature
←88th 90th→
Seal of the State of Texas
The Seal of Texas
Overview
Legislative bodyTexas State Legislature
JurisdictionTexas
TermJanuary 14, 2025 –
June 2, 2025
Election2024 general election
Senate
Members31
President of the SenateDan Patrick (R)
Party controlRepublican
House of Representatives
Members150
SpeakerDustin Burrows (R–83)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1stJuly 21, 2025 – August 15, 2025
2ndAugust 15, 2025 – Present

The 89th Texas Legislature is the meeting of the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Texas, composed of the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives. The regular session is scheduled to until June 2, 2025.[1]

All 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives and 15 seats in the Texas Senate were up for election in November 2024, with Republicans continuing their majority in both chambers.

Planned events

  • January 14, 2025: Legislature convened at noon (CST).
  • June 2, 2025: Legislature adjourned sine die.
  • July 21, 2025: 1st Called Session began.
  • August 15, 2025: 2nd Called Session began.

Session

House speaker election

House vote for Speaker[2]
For Burrows (85)
  Democrat for Burrows (49)
  Republican for Burrows (36)
For Cook (55)
  Republican for Cook (52)
  Democrat for Cook (3)
Not voting (10)
  Democrat not voting (9)
  Absent Democrat (1)

On September 10, 2024, prior to the 2024 election, 48 house Republicans who opposed Phelan unanimously chose David Cook[3] of the 96th district as the reformer-endorsed candidate in the next speakership election.[4][5] Phelan was expected to seek support from Democrats in order to remain as speaker, but ultimately opted out of seeking a third term as speaker.[6][7] Dustin Burrows of the 83rd district, an ally of Phelan, sought the speakership, relying on the support of Democratic representatives and Republicans who defeated primary challengers.[8] On January 14, 2025, Burrows was elected Texas House Speaker after 49 Democrats joined 36 Republicans to back him in the second round of voting, defeating Cook by a vote of 85 to 55.[9]

Quorum Break

On July 21, 2025 the legislature began a special session called by the Governor to address several issues including natural disaster relief, THC regulation, restricting abortion medication, and congressional redistricting.[10] On August 3, Texas House Democrats left the state in order to prevent a quorum from meeting and voting on a new congressional map that heavily favored the Republican party.[11] On August 4th, when the roll call showed that the chamber lacked a quorum, a call of the house was issued and the Speaker signed civil arrest warrants to try and secure the return of the absent members.[12] Since the absent members were not within the state, the warrants were mostly symbolic. Due to rules enacted after the last quorum break in the 87th Legislature, the absent members were subject to $500 a day fines.[13] On August 7, Senator John Cornyn announced that the FBI had agreed to assist in reestablishing quorum.[14]

Republican leadership in the state have initiated lawsuits against the missing Democrats. They argue that by leaving the state, the absent members have vacated their seats.[15][16] The Supreme Court of Texas is currently examining the question, but a ruling is not expected until after the first called session is complete.[17]

Given the national implications of the proposed congressional maps in the 2026 midterm elections, other states have threatened to also redraw their maps in partisan retaliation. Democratic leadership in California and New York have signaled their intent to counteract Republican gains.[18][19] Republican leadership in Missouri and Florida have also discussed their plans to join in the redistricting push.[20][21]

The quorum break ended on August 18. The House Democrats returned to the capitol after the first called session was ended, and California committed to introducing redistricting legislation to offset the partisan gains of the new Texas congressional maps.[22][23] In order to ensure that a quorum would be present in order to allow a vote on the new maps, the members who had participated in the break had to sign a permission slip to leave the building. Once they left the building, they would be escorted by a state trooper who would make sure they return. At least one member, Nicole Collier, refused to agree with the police escort and had to remain in the building overnight. [24]

Party summary

Senate

Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total Vacant
Democratic Republican
End of previous legislature 12 19 31 0
Begin (January 14, 2025) 11 20 31 0
Latest voting share 35.48% 64.52%  

Leadership

  1. Brandon Creighton (R) (Regular session, January 14 - June 2)
  2. Charles Perry (R) (Ad Interim, June 2- Present)

Members

House of Representatives

Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total Vacant
Democratic Republican
End of previous legislature 64 86 150 0
Begin (January 14, 2025) 62 88 150 0
Latest voting share 41.3% 58.7%  

Leadership

Members

Committees

Listed by chamber and then alphabetically by committee name, including chair and vice-chair.

Senate

On January 17, Dan Patrick, the President of the Texas Senate, announced the standing committee assignments.[25]

Committee Chair Vice-chair
Administration Bob Hall (R-2) Adam Hinojosa (R-27)
Border Security Brian Birdwell (R-22) Pete Flores (R-24)
Business and Commerce Charles Schwertner (R-5) Phil King (R-10)
Criminal Justice Pete Flores (R-24) Tan Parker (R-12)
Economic Development Phil King (R-10) Kevin Sparks (R-31)
Education K-16 Brandon Creighton (R-4) Donna Campbell (R-25)
Finance Joan Huffman (R-17) Juan Hinojosa (D-20)
Health and Human Services Lois Kolkhorst (R-18) Charles Perry (R-28)
Jurisprudence Bryan Hughes (R-1) Nathan Johnson (D-16)
Local Government Paul Bettencourt (R-7) Mayes Middleton (R-11)
Natural Resources Brian Birdwell (R-22) Judith Zaffirini (D-21)
Nominations Donna Campbell (R-25) Brent Hagenbuch (R-30)
State Affairs Bryan Hughes (R-1) Angela Paxton (R-8)
Transportation Robert Nichols (R-3) Royce West (D-23)
Veteran Affairs Kelly Hancock (R-9) Tan Parker (R-12)
Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Charles Perry (R-28) Kelly Hancock (R-9)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Texas legislative sessions and years". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Government of Texas. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Astudillo, Carla (November 17, 2023). "Texas House cuts school vouchers out of the education bill. See how lawmakers voted on the measure". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  3. ^ James Barragán (September 3, 2024). "Another Republican is challenging Dade Phelan for Texas House speaker". The Texas Tribune.
  4. ^ Renzo Downey (September 20, 2024). "Republicans who want to oust Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan unanimously back state Rep. David Cook". The Texas Tribune.
  5. ^ Brandon Waltens (September 20, 2024). "David Cook Gets Speakership Nod From GOP Reformers". Texas Scorecard.
  6. ^ James Barragán (November 7, 2024). "After election, Texas House speaker race remains up for grabs". The Texas Tribune.
  7. ^ Scherer, Jasper; Barragán, James; Downey, Renzo (December 6, 2024). "Speaker Dade Phelan abandons bid for third term amid bruising leadership battle". Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Scherer, Jasper (December 16, 2024). "Dustin Burrows walks a tightrope seeking Republican and Democratic support for Texas House speaker bid". Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Barragán, James (January 14, 2025). "Rep. Dustin Burrows voted Texas House speaker in blow to insurgent GOP movement". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  10. ^ "Governor Abbott Announces Special Session Agenda". gov.texas.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  11. ^ Birenbaum, By Kayla Guo, Eleanor Klibanoff and Gabby (August 3, 2025). "Texas House Democrats flee the state in bid to block GOP's proposed congressional map". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Klibanoff, By Eleanor (August 4, 2025). "Texas House issues arrest warrants for Democrats who left state to block congressional redistricting". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  13. ^ "Texas Democrats could be fined nearly $400,000 for fleeing the state". POLITICO. August 6, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "FBI agrees to help chase down quorum-breaking Texas Democrats". POLITICO. August 7, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  15. ^ "Governor Abbott Files Lawsuit Seeking Removal Of Texas Democrat Caucus Chair Representative Wu". gov.texas.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  16. ^ "Attorney General Ken Paxton Files Historic Lawsuit Against Democrat Runaways in SCOTX to Secure Order Declaring Their Seats Vacant | Office of the Attorney General". www.texasattorneygeneral.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  17. ^ Klibanoff, By Eleanor (August 12, 2025). "Texas Supreme Court won't rule for weeks on GOP requests to expel Democrats who left the state". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  18. ^ "Newsom again threatens tit-for-tat redistricting". POLITICO. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  19. ^ "New York declares "war" in response to Texas GOP redistricting plan". Newsweek. August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  20. ^ Reyes, Yacob (August 12, 2025). "Florida looks to join Trump's redistricting push". Axios. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  21. ^ "Missouri's redistricting sparks row amid calls for a special session". ksdk.com. August 12, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  22. ^ Guo, By Kayla (August 15, 2025). "Abbott calls second special session as first round ends with Democrats still out of state". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  23. ^ Guo, By Kayla (August 18, 2025). "Texas House Democrats return to Capitol, ending walkout over redistricting plan". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  24. ^ Runnels, By Kayla Guo and Ayden (August 19, 2025). "Rep. Nicole Collier spends night on Texas House floor after refusing police escort". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  25. ^ Frank Heinz (January 17, 2025). "Texas Republican Senators fill 68% of committee appointments". KXAS-TV. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
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