Filing of legislation has begun
Monday was the first day legislators could pre-file bills. More than 1,200 bills were filed. Last session, the grand total of bills filled was more than 8,700 (during the whole Session) and fewer than 1,100 passed.
Among the most popular topics are reforming public education, controlling data centers, and the expansion of Medicaid. The Texas Tribune reports that GOP and Dem members seem to be seeing eye-to-eye on some issues like term limits for statewide offices, data centers and property taxes.
Here’s a sampling of some others filed on the first day (from the Dallas Morning News and Austin TV station KXAN):
· Prohibition of taxpayer-funded lobbying (a bill that did not pass last Session)
· Elimination of sales tax exemptions for data centers
· Declaring English as the state’s official language
· Abolishment of education voucher program
· Expansion of Medicaid
· Raising minimum wage to $15 an hour
· Having online voter registration
· Banning minors under the age of 16 from social media
· Banning automatic license plate readers in Texas
· Repealing a law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms
· Creating a Texas Redistricting Commission
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/11/09/texas-legislature-90th-session-bill-filing-begins/
Senate Demo numbers to lessen early in the Session
Since Sen. Nate Johnson (D-Dallas) was elected Attorney General and Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) won the Comptroller’s post, the upper body will start the session with only 10 Dems (and 19 GOP). The Gov will have to call special elections to fill those seats and best guess is those won’t be until March.
Business Justices
Three years ago, a new State Business Court and an appeals court that could take appellant cases from it, were established. Both handle the largest (moneywise) cases statewide. That takes the burden off of local judges who may have little experience in presiding over complicated business-related suits. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed the first justices. All three GOP judges on the 15th Court of Appeals lost last week, so the three Demo candidates will step into their seats in January.
It looks to me like…
The top issue for the Lege might just end up being compromise. Can the House and Senate work together?
I’m seeing indications in the media that the Probable Speaker-to-be, Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), is the real key to this. Can she build the bridge, not only between the 83 Dems and 67 GOP in the House, but especially with the Senate? She’ll have to back off from some of her past staunch stances. She can do that. Half a century of experience in the Lege has taught her a lot.
Are the 19 GOP Senators willing to compromise on issues? Are they willing to consider adjustments or even abolishment of some of the core issues they passed last Session?
Lt. Gov.-elect Vicky Goodwin is outnumbered and that majority is a tough, solid group of fighters. The talk of them stripping power from the Lt. Gov’s office is real, and likely, at least to some extent. The Senate membership decides how it conducts its business and what power it gives to the Lt. Gov.
Short notes
· Probable Speaker Thompson has named six former Speakers of the House to her transition team: Democrats Ben Barnes, Gib Lewis and Pete Laney, as well as Republicans Joe Straus, Dennis Bonnen and Dade Phelan.
· Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is setting up Patrick Strategies. He says the firm will help push conservative, pro-business legislation in Texas. (Some are asking if it’s not a way for him to keep at least some influence and at most, some control in the Senate.)