The veteran president of the Texas Senate and the new speaker of the House did not start out on the same page.

Meanwhile in the Panhandle, Republicans were less excited that Burrows won the speaker contest thanks largely to Democrats.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows navigates bipartisan tightrope with the adoption of new rules governing committees in his chamber.

Conservative activists in the GOP caucus called any power sharing with the minority party a betrayal of Republican voters.

We’re glad to see the next speaker was selected by a bipartisan delegation, and we’re optimistic that having a West Texan in top leadership again will prove beneficial for our region.

Since then, the vast majority of House speakers have been elected by acclamation or with more than 140 votes. Even Rep. Dade Phelan, whom hard-right Republicans forced from seeking a third term, received 143 votes in 2021 and 145 in 2023.

Rep. Dustin Burrows is elected Texas House Speaker, winning with support from Democrats, amid GOP internal tensions.

Conservative activists in the GOP caucus called any power sharing with the minority party a betrayal of Republican voters.

Democrats will serve as House committee vice chairs, which some lawmakers said harks back to the Texas tradition of power sharing. But vice chairs don’t have nearly the power enjoyed by chairs, who can push or kill legislation and are better positioned to pass legislation.

The newly elected Texas House Speaker, Dustin Burrows, is well positioned to bring school choice to Texas and achieve other long sought conservative goals.

The state budget, school vouchers and a THC ban topped Patrick’s list. His other top goals include raising the property tax exemption for homeowners, improving electric and water infrastructure, and aiding the federal government with the deportation of people who are in the U.

() –The Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16 has advanced a school choice bill filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe. SB 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, passed the committee by a 9-2 vote and is expected to pass the full Senate.