Rep. Brian Harrison sent the attached letter to the Governor asking that he designates a list of items as “emergency items” so the Legislature can get to work immediately on them. While there are many items that deserve the Legislature’s attention this session, I am respectfully asking that you include the following in your “emergency items” list so that we can immediately get to work to make Texas the limited government, low tax, low regulation, bastion of liberty Texans deserve.

"The criminals who exploit our open borders are not going to go quietly into the night; we have to get ahead of them and strike while the iron is hot," said South Texas Cong. Tony Gonzales, announcing the introduction of his first bill of the 119th Congress – "The Security First Act" intended to specifically address and go after the root causes of the Biden Border Crisis. “It’s plain and simple – bad policies embolden cartels and put innocent Americans in harm’s way," said Gonzales.

“I’m proud to serve as President of the Texas Senate and work with such talented and hard-working leaders, each in their own right. Throughout the interim, your senators have worked tirelessly to study the issues and prepare for this legislative session. With these committee appointments, the Texas Senate is hitting the ground running, ready to do the work the voters sent us to do.”

"In the final hours of his presidency, President Biden finished off four years of self-inflicted disasters by continuing his all-out assault on U.S. Energy Production," said Cong. Jodey Arrington, as he and Sen. Ted Cruz introduced legislation to repeal a last minute Executive Order by Joe Biden that banned American energy exploration on over 625 million acres of federal territories. A coalition of energy organizations says Biden's ban undermines domestic energy, job creation, and national security.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today released the Tax Exemptions and Tax Incidence Report, which estimates the value of each exemption, exclusion, discount, deduction, special accounting method, credit, refund and special appraisal available to payers of Texas’ sales, franchise, motor vehicle sales and oil production taxes, as well as property taxes levied by school districts.

Sen. Cruz’s legislation has been endorsed by: US Oil & Gas Association (USOGA), American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC), Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), American Petroleum Institute (API), National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA), Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, Texas Independent & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO), and Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF).

Human trafficking is not a distant, overseas issue—it’s happening right here in our communities, across rural towns and major cities in America. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were over 9,000 cases of human trafficking reported in 2023. However, experts estimate this number is just the tip of the iceberg, as many cases go unreported.

This state rule implementation is required by federal law under the Biden administration and imposes undue burdens on U.S. oil and gas operators, especially small producers who lack the resources of multinational corporations. These rules are part of a larger agenda that threatens not only the state’s energy independence but also the livelihood of numerous Texans who rely on this industry.

Governor Greg Abbott announced the launch of the enhanced State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) database. STEAR is a free, voluntary registry designed to provide local emergency planners and responders with vital information about their community’s specific needs, such as communication barriers and mobility challenges, to better assist Texans during disasters. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) built the database and makes the information accessible to participating local officials to use in preparation for and response to disasters.

“This session is about securing Texas’ future—protecting our border, empowering parents, supporting teachers, and driving economic growth. As I said in my remarks today, our mandate is clear: to protect the Texas dream, set the pace for America and the world, and, by working together, ensure our state continues to lead the nation in hope, opportunity, and prosperity. I’m confident we’ll rise to the challenge and deliver conservative results for Texans. Let’s get to work—may God bless this great state.”

Despite having a clear majority of Republican votes, Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, was defeated. Speaker Burrows was handed the speakership by Democrats, as has happened behind closed doors session after session since 2009. This may be the first time in our nation’s history where the minority party openly elected the speaker of a legislative body instead of the majority party.

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that he requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Southeast Texas communities impacted by severe weather and tornadoes in December. If approved, the SBA declaration will make federal assistance available through disaster loans for Montgomery and Brazoria counties and their contiguous counties.

The completion of the 1.5-mile border wall paneling comes shortly after the GLO acquired this ranch along the Rio Grande in Starr County. Less than 24 hours after closing on the property, Commissioner Buckingham signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC), authorizing them to begin border wall construction. TFC is also in the process of installing security cameras to monitor the property, lighting, and a motorized gate to allow law enforcement vehicles to patrol the entire property.

"With this surplus, my first focus is to continue to cut property taxes and increase teacher salaries, along with making smart one-time investments to ensure our budget is sustainable moving forward and that our state is prepared for the future. Comptroller Hegar’s estimate today is further proof of the Texas economy’s resilience – despite President Biden’s economic malfeasance – and it's proof our conservative policies work," said Patrick.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas-22) introduced the Justice for Jocelyn Act. The bill enhances the detention and tracking of illegal aliens entering the United States. It was written in response to the brutal murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray by two illegal aliens in Houston, Texas last year. 

Governor Greg Abbott announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request for a disaster declaration for Webb County following prolonged boil water notices caused by a water connection issue in Laredo in October. Texas counties included in the declaration are Webb County and its contiguous counties: Dimmit, Duvall, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen, and Zapata.

"Americans are ready for a thriving economy, a secure border, energy independence and dominance, safer streets, stronger communities, and to reclaim our leadership on a global stage. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and my colleagues in Congress to fight for the betterment of America. We are incredibly blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth, and I am determined to keep it that way," said Texan August Pfluger.

The protocols allow the U.S. government to return foreign individuals who illegally entered the U.S. through the southern border to Mexico to await immigration proceedings. This legislation would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to reimplement the Migrant Protection Protocols in accordance with the 2019 Homeland Security memorandum titled “Policy Guidance for Implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols.”

 The Texas oil and natural gas industry shattered records for state and local tax revenue and performance across every sector in 2024, according to the Texas Oil & Gas Association’s (TXOGA) newly released annual Energy & Economic Impact Report (EEIR). Highlights from the report include a history-making $27.3 billion in state and local taxes and state royalties paid by the oil and natural gas industry–a feat driven by record-breaking performance in production, pipelines, storage, processing, refining and exports.

“Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis," said Governor Greg Abbott, announcing he has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Texas A&M Forest Service to deploy firefighters, emergency management and medical personnel, fire engines, and equipment to assist California's wildfire response following a request from the California Office of Emergency Services.