New House rules ban Democrats from chairing committees

Members of the Texas House of Representatives approved rules for the chamber on Thursday, Jan. 23. While many of the rules involve procedures for committees and how bills are debated on the House floor, the most notable rule change states that the chairs of each standing committee must be from the majority party, while vice-chairs must be from the minority party. As such, all House committees will now be chaired by Republicans and vice-chaired by Democrats.

Since 1970, members of both parties chaired committees, and even as recently as last session, Democrats chaired a handful of committees. This rules change marks a significant shift in the distribution of power for the House.

Despite being banned from chairing committees, many Democrats voted for the rules change because the new rules also include increased power for vice-chairs, specifically that they may invite witnesses to testify on legislation, previously only a privilege of the chair. Some hardline Republicans voted against the rules, claiming that even allowing Democrats as vice-chairs is too much power for the minority party.

In addition to rules regarding chairs and vice-chairs of committees, a handful of committees were dissolved or combined into new committees.

Dissolved committees

• Business and Industry
• County Affairs
• Defense and Veterans’ Affairs
• Homeland Security and Public Safety
• International Relations and Economic Development
• Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
• Resolutions Calendars
• Urban Affairs

New Committees

• Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans’ Affairs
• Intergovernmental Affairs
• Trade, Workforce and Economic Development

House members must submit their preferences for committee membership by the end of next week, after which House Speaker Dustin Burrows will assign members to committees and members will begin to debate bills.