Welcome back, friends
Senator John Cornyn is running for Senate Majority Leader, facing opposition from some conservatives who back Florida’s Senator Rick Scott for the role. In the Texas House, several candidates from both parties, including Speaker Dade Phelan, have declared their candidacies for House Speaker. Meanwhile, Texas lawmakers set a record for pre-filed bills this session, introducing over 1,500 proposals on topics such as education, property taxes, and healthcare. Speaker Phelan has outlined plans to expedite committee assignments and agency oversight to ensure a productive session.
Today’s Insights:
- Sen. Cornyn Runs for Senate Majority Leader Amid Opposition
- Texas Legislature Sets Record with Over 1,500 Bills Pre-Filed for 2025 Session
- Speaker Phelan Outlines House Priorities and Early Oversight Plans
- Multiple Candidates File for Texas House Speaker
Sen. Cornyn Runs for Senate Majority Leader Amid Opposition
With Republicans set to take the majority in the U.S. Senate, Texas Senator John Cornyn is campaigning for Senate Majority Leader. However, some conservative groups and public figures have voiced support for Florida Senator Rick Scott as an alternative candidate. Cornyn, a long-serving senator with extensive experience on Senate committees, has emphasized his commitment to procedural reforms. The leadership election, which will be decided by a secret-ballot vote of Republican senators, is scheduled for Wednesday.
Texas Legislature Sets Record with Over 1,500 Bills Pre-Filed for 2025 Session
On the first day of bill pre-filing for the 89th Texas legislative session, lawmakers filed more than 1,500 bills—the highest early total in recent years. This includes 1,207 bills in the House and 304 in the Senate, addressing issues such as education funding, property tax reform, and healthcare. The record-breaking number of pre-filed bills indicates a busy legislative session ahead, with lawmakers preparing to tackle a wide range of topics affecting Texans. USLege offers tools to track these bills as they progress, providing real-time updates and analysis to help stay informed about key legislative developments.
Speaker Phelan Outlines House Priorities and Early Oversight Plans
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan has announced that bill numbers 1 through 150 will be reserved for high-priority legislation in the upcoming session. These reserved numbers are set aside for bills with broad support among House members and those aligned with statewide goals or potential emergency items designated by Governor Greg Abbott. Additionally, Speaker Phelan plans to expedite committee assignments and begin agency oversight hearings early in the session, allowing committees to review state agency operations before bill referrals begin.
Multiple Candidates File for Texas House Speaker
Several Texas House members have declared their candidacies for Speaker of the House ahead of the 89th legislative session. Legislators who declared their candidacy for Speaker are: current Speaker Dade Phelan, John Bryant, David L. Cook, James B. Frank, Thomas John "Tom" Oliverson, Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos, Shelby L. Slawson, and John T. Smithee. The Republican Caucus is scheduled to meet on December 7 to select their preferred candidate for the role. The final election for Speaker will take place in January, when House members will vote to determine their leader for the upcoming session.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
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#43 - Wes Benedict: Bridging Policy and Community with Texans for Reasonable Solutions
Welcome to Episode #43 of Bills & Business. In this episode, Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege, sits down with Wes Benedict, Grassroots Manager at Texans for Reasonable Solutions.
Wes brings years of advocacy experience and a steady, practical approach to community engagement. The conversation explores how Texas communities can navigate political tension, build cross-partisan coalitions, and create space for meaningful dialogue in an increasingly polarized environment.
They dive into the organization’s focus on key statewide issues including housing, infrastructure, water, and the evolving relationship between local and state governments. Wes breaks down why these policies matter for both everyday Texans and the business community, and how reasonable, bipartisan solutions can move conversations forward.
The episode closes with insights on how individuals can get involved, what success looks like in grassroots policy work, and what Texans should be watching as the special session unfolds.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Bills & Business on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more deep dives into Texas policy and business news.
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Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back, friends
Texas voters approved one of the largest property tax relief packages in state history on Tuesday, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 and granting new tax breaks for seniors, people with disabilities, and small businesses. In Austin, residents rejected Proposition Q, a plan to fund public safety, homelessness programs, and city facility initiatives through a property tax hike, forcing city leaders to rework the budget and brace for service cuts. Meanwhile, Bexar County voters narrowly passed Propositions A and B, greenlighting up to $311 million in tourism-funded support for a new downtown Spurs arena and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum grounds.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
Texas Political Spotlight
Welcome back friends,
Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at 84, remembered by former President George W. Bush as a “patriot” whose intellect and conviction shaped decades of U.S. policy. In Texas, the Education Agency announced a sweeping takeover of Fort Worth ISD, the state’s second-largest intervention, citing years of academic underperformance and plans to install new local managers. And in Washington, a United Airlines flight was evacuated after a bomb threat, prompting an FBI investigation that later found no explosives, allowing operations to resume safely.
We hope you enjoyed today’s read!
