Texas Republican Seeks Limits on Governor’s Emergency Powers

Harrison called on Abbott to convene lawmakers before Hinojosa is sworn in, arguing that Texas’s current emergency laws give the governor too much authority. He said Republicans still control the state government and have about ten weeks to act after Democrats’ election wins.

Harrison has proposed legislation that would prevent a governor from suspending or changing state laws through emergency orders. Under the measure, orders would expire after 30 days unless lawmakers approved them, and governors could not reissue orders that had expired or been rejected. It would also require orders to be narrowly focused and allow expedited court review.

Harrison said his concern applied to governors of either party, but warned that Hinojosa would inherit extensive emergency authority. He urged Texas Republicans to support restrictions and said he had filed a similar bill, HB911, in 2022.

Republican state senators are also considering changes that would limit the powers traditionally held by the Senate’s presiding officer. The proposed rules changes could affect Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin when she takes that role. Hinojosa is set to become Texas’s first Latina governor and the first Democrat elected governor since Ann Richards in 1990.

Texas GOP Moves to Limit Incoming Democratic Governor

Texas Republicans are pressing to restrict the powers of the state’s incoming Democratic governor before she is sworn in. Rep. Brian Harrison wants Abbott to call a special session, arguing that lawmakers have about ten weeks to act after Democrats’ election wins.

Harrison’s proposal would stop governors from suspending or altering laws through emergency orders. It would make orders expire after 30 days without legislative approval, prevent the revival of expired or rejected orders, require narrow limits and provide expedited court review. He says the restrictions should apply regardless of party, though his demand comes as Hinojosa prepares to take office.

The timing makes the effort consequential: Hinojosa is set to become the state’s first Latina governor and its first elected Democratic governor since Ann Richards in 1990. Republicans are also considering Senate rule changes that could limit the traditional authority of Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin. These proposals would constrain incoming Democratic leaders before they can exercise powers attached to their offices, while Harrison argues that unchecked emergency authority threatens divided government.

Harrison Seeks Checks on Texas Governor’s Emergency Authority

A governor should not be able to change the law through emergency orders, and Texas Republicans still have time to put limits in place. That is the case Rep. Brian Harrison is making as he urges Abbott to summon lawmakers before Hinojosa is sworn in.

Harrison’s proposed safeguards would bar a governor from suspending or modifying statutes. Emergency orders would end after 30 days unless the legislature ratified them; expired or rejected orders could not simply be issued again. His plan would also require narrowly tailored orders and expedited judicial review. Harrison says the same restrictions should apply to governors of either party.

The issue is urgent for Harrison because Democrats won elections and Hinojosa is set to become Texas’s first Latina governor and first elected Democrat in the role since Ann Richards in 1990. Republicans are also weighing Senate rule changes that could limit the customary powers of Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin. Harrison argues that concentrating lawmaking and enforcement authority in one executive threatens divided government; his proposal would put the legislature and courts back into the emergency process.