With the 89th Session of the Texas Legislature kicking off on this week, we are announcing our ten 2025 Legislative Priorities:
- Create a State Department of Homeland Security with a Border Protection Unit to end the
invasion at our border, repel illegal crossings, and combat the cartels - Mandate E-Verify for all employers to deter illegal immigration and protect American jobs
- End all public subsidies for illegal aliens, including in-state tuition
- Mandate local law enforcement participation in the ICE 287(g) program
- Help finish the Trump Border Wall
- Reform all state economic incentive programs, including the Texas Enterprise Fund, to prevent government subsidies for replacing American workers
- Impose a state tax on remittances to Mexico and Latin America to disincentivize illegal
immigration and wealth transfer out of Texas - Restore the original intent of the 14th Amendment by ending birthright citizenship for the
children of illegal aliens and non-resident visa holders. - Protect Texas land from hostile foreign ownership
- Reform higher education to put Texas students first and prevent espionage
You can view and download our entire 2025 Legislative Priority packet on our 2025 Legislative Priorities page on the menu bar above.
On Tuesday, the 89th Texas Legislature convened for the first day of the legislative session, which runs until Sine Die on Monday, June 2nd.
The first order of business in the Texas House was to elect the House Speaker. Although Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) won the Texas House GOP Caucus vote in December, Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), a close ally of former speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) gained the speakership with a majority-Democrat coalition.
The vote on the second and final ballot was 85 for Burrows (49 Democrats and 36 Republicans) to 55 for Cook (52 Republicans and 3 Democrats). The current makeup of the Texas House is 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats.
After the vote, the Texas House Democrats declared victory, saying, “Thanks to a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and principled Republicans, the Texas House of Representatives will not be auctioned off to the highest bidder, handed over to Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, and Ken Paxton…”
As we’ve written previously, in his campaign for Speaker, David Cook had pledged to uphold the major reforms advanced in the Contract with Texas, including the elimination of Democrat committee chairs and a substantive compliance doctrine on parliamentary rulings (which would reduce the number of bills killed by Points of Order, like HB 20 last session).
A Burrows speakership brings with it considerable uncertainty. Burrows and his closest allies are part of the same inner circle that has ruled the Texas House under previous speakers Dennis Bonnen and Dade Phelan. This suggests that very little will change from previous sessions.
Additionally, a majority-Democrat coalition electing the Speaker could prove to be a considerable obstacle to the Republicans majority in the body passing key legislation, including legislation to secure the border.
Nonetheless, we at Texans for Strong Borders pledge to continue the fight in Austin. In November, Texans delivered an undeniable mandate to secure our border and put citizens first. Now, more than ever, we must continue to push for effective policy and hold our elected representatives accountable.