Texas lawmakers set to tackle immigration, education as legislative session starts Tuesday

AUSTIN - Immigration, cannabis and education bills are expected to keep Texas lawmakers busy when the 89th Texas Legislature convenes Tuesday in Austin. 

Since November’s filing period began, more than 2,500 bills have been filed by lawmakers. Some of the proposals include pay raises for some state workers, including teachers.  

“I think one of the biggest topics is going to be school vouchers. We saw that fight play out last legislative session,” says Texas Tribute political reporter James Barragan.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made school choice a top priority for the legislative session. 

Barragan believes there could be movement this session. 

“There was an impasse there that led to the legislature going into overtime four times, for four special sessions," he said. “The legislature has changed. You have more people in the seats who align with that philosophy."

Immigration will also be front and center. The state has spent billions of dollars on tackling border security through Operation Lone Star. 

Since the operation launched in 2021, the state has spent more than $11 billion. 

With return of President-Elect Donald Trump to the White House, Barragan says there could be more federal dollars coming to Texas to help tackle the problem, allowing the state to focus on other priorities. 

“What does that do for the spending here at the state level? Will they continue to spend billions of dollars, or will they pull back to spend on education,” he said.

Before discussions can begin on any bill, there’s already controversy brewing in the Legislature. 

The race for speaker of the House remains up in the air between Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) and Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) 

“The speaker's race is crucial. It will determine how the house is run, and what its relationship will be like with the Senate,” Barragan adds. 

Cook or Burrows will need to claim a majority of 76 votes to take control of the gavel.   The position is up for grabs after Rep Dade Phelan, (R-Beaumont) stepped down. 

Barragan says House Republicans are fighting amongst themselves over who they want to lead the chamber. 

“Burrows is more of the establishment candidate. A more traditional Republican of the business friendly wing," something Barragan says could cause some friction between the Senate and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has publicly endorsed Cook. 

“He (Cook) is more aligned with the conservative wing of the party, more socially conservative. Someone who wants to take things a little more to the right,” Barragan adds.  

Whoever gets the gavel, Barragan says the new speaker will likely have to mend feelings within the GOP party, and reach across the aisle to shore up votes from Democrats. 

The session runs from through June 2. 

Republicans control the House and Senate