The Texas legislature will begin its next legislative session in January 2025, with priorities from the governor, lieutenant governor and the Republican Party of Texas at the forefront of the legislative agenda.
In the upcoming legislative session, the Texas GOP will hold an 88-62 majority in the Texas House of Representatives and a 20-11 majority in the Texas Senate following the November election. This will allow easy passage along party lines for any bills the party is united behind. The governor’s position was not up for reelection, and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will remain in office until the 2026 midterm election.
The top priority going into the 2025 legislative session for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is school choice.
“Many Texas schools are striving to be great, and are great, and most are good. Unfortunately, no matter their effort, some schools struggle to meet the unique educational needs that some students require,” Patrick said in an early November statement. “Parents should be empowered to place their child in the best learning environment, whether that is a public or private school.”
One of the Republican Party of Texas’ goals is to establish a “Texas Department of Homeland Security” to prevent illegal entry into the state and to deport undocumented immigrants. The party hopes to further combat illegal immigration by establishing mandatory fines and jail time for individuals, corporations and nonprofits who assist or incite illegal entry, according to the Texas GOP’s official list of priorities.
“There is unprecedented success in Texas. This is the model we can take across the country,” said Tom Homan, the incoming U.S. border czar, to members of the Texas National Guard during a Thanksgiving event with Abbott. “Everyone here needs to understand that you are national heroes and are saving the nation. What you have done has not only protected Texas and the citizens of Texas, you are protecting this nation.”
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham recently announced the state will offer land to the Trump Administration for “mass deportation facilities,” according to the Texas Tribune.
Another top priority for the Texas GOP is voter registration and election security, including legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and for Texas counties and the Texas Secretary of State to update voter registration rolls quarterly.
Before the November election Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas asking for a verification of voter citizenship, accusing Mayorkas of failing to perform his duty as Secretary of Homeland Security.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has refused to abide by the law,” Paxton said in a press release. “They are legally obligated to assist States in their efforts to ensure that noncitizens are not registered to vote or actually casting ballots in American elections.”
As of Dec. 4, a total of 2,022 bills have been filed in both the Texas House and Senate, though not all will have a hearing or be brought for a vote during the 89th legislative session beginning January 2025.
