Legislative Services

Governor to Deliver State of the State Address

On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott will announce his priorities for the 89th Legislature in his State of the State address. This address is traditionally given in the early days of the legislative session and outlines the governor's emergency items. The Texas Constitution prohibits the Legislature from passing legislation during the first 60 days of a regular session unless the subject is granted emergency status by the governor. If four special sessions in 2023, significant campaign activity and the Senate's early action described in the item below are any indication, a public school voucher program is sure to be among Abbott's emergency items.

Senate Advances School Choice Bill

The Senate Education K-16 Committee met Tuesday to consider Senate Bill 2 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe). SB 2 would implement a voucher program for public education, allotting a stipend to support private education to the parents of eligible students. While similar proposals failed in the 88th Legislature and four subsequent special sessions, support for the effort has increased with the changed makeup of the Legislature, much of which resulted from campaigning on the issue. Both the House and Senate budgets reserve funding for a voucher program.

Senate Budget Hearings Begin

On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee took up consideration of the 2026-27 state budget, SB 1 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston). Budget deliberations will continue over the coming weeks as members ready the budget for action by the full Senate.

There to testify on opening day was Harris County Justice of the Peace Holly Williamson, President of Justices of the Peace and Constables Association. Williamson testified in support of maintaining the Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund No. 540. Her testimony begins at the 5:34 mark in this video recording.

Lieutenant Governor Sets Senate Priorities

House and Senate presiding officers traditionally reserve blocs of bill numbers for priority legislation. Senators who directed their staff to queue for a low bill number on the first eligible day soon learned that the top prize was SB 41. That number was secured by perennial first-filer Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo). The first 40 slots were reserved for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's then-unannounced priorities.

On Wednesday, Patrick revealed the first round of his priorities. While most have not yet been filed, the subject matter for Senate Bills 1-25 is now set. The list includes SB 19, "Stopping Taxpayer Dollars for Lobbyists."

For more information about this article, please contact Pete Winckler.