AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, announced the assignments for the standing committees in the House of Representatives for the 89th legislative session. The Speaker said it is the first time in the state’s history that every standing committee will be chaired by a Republican during a regular session. It also ties the record for most Republican chairs, at 30.
“Taking the time to get this right was not just necessary — it is what Texans deserve of their government, and I am confident these appointments will position the House for a productive, successful session,” Burrows said in a news release following the assignments.
All standing committees and subcommittees will be chaired by a Republican with a Democratic member as Vice-Chair. Giving Democratic members vice-chairmanships was a point of contention from some Republicans in the House, who feared it gave too much power to the minority party. Each committee has a Republican majority.
“This process is much more than filling seats; it’s about structuring the House in a way that allows each member to contribute their expertise where it truly makes a difference. There is no small role in the committee process, as each plays a unique part in shaping statewide policy,” Burrows said in his statement.
Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, who ran against Burrows in a hotly contested race for the Speakership, received a chairmanship from Burrows. He is the chair of the Permanent Standing Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice.
Here is a list of the rest of the assignments:
In response to the release of committee assignments, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu issued the following statement:
“Today’s committee assignments by Speaker Burrows demonstrate a commitment to bipartisanship and upholding the institutional norms of the Texas House of Representatives. We congratulate our 30 Democratic colleagues who will serve in committee leadership positions as committee Vice Chairs and our 10 Democratic colleagues who will serve as subcommittee Chairs and Vice Chairs. We also congratulate Rep. Joe Moody for his appointment as Speaker Pro Tempore. These appointments position Democrats to effectively advocate for communities across our state.
Our state has unprecedented resources and opportunities – now we need the political will to come together to invest in our future, protect our freedoms, and return power to working families. Texas House Democrats will continue fighting to ensure that every committee vote and every legislative decision puts Texans first.”
Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu
