Bill Filing Opens in Texas as Democrats Prepare to Take Over the House and Governor’s Office
Texas lawmakers can begin filing bills for the 90th Legislature this morning, kicking off a session that will look very different from any in the past two decades.
Sitting legislators may submit proposals starting at 8 a.m. Monday. Members elected last week can file only after they are sworn in on Jan. 12, when the regular session begins.
A new balance of power
Democrats flipped the Texas House on Election Day, taking control of the chamber for the first time since Republicans won it after the 2002 election. Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott, and Democrat Vikki Goodwin unseated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
“I would hope that elected leaders from both parties don’t get in the way of the progress we can make together to deliver for working people. That is our obligation as leaders in this state, and I look forward to working with Republican leaders in the Legislature.” — Governor-Elect Gina Hinojosa
Democrats did not sweep the Capitol, however. Republicans held onto the Senate with a 19-12 majority, which ended the GOP trifecta without handing Democrats one of their own. Any major legislation will have to clear a Republican-led upper chamber.
What to watch
Early filings tend to signal priorities, though they rarely tell the whole story. In 2024, lawmakers filed roughly 1,500 bills on the first day of prefiling, a record. Lawmakers have until the 60th day of the session to submit most legislation, so many proposals are still to come.
Several issues were already building before the election. Legislators have discussed property tax relief, protections for residents who live near data centers, and water policy. Some are also laying groundwork for a THC ban, reviving an effort Abbott vetoed last session.
With House leadership changing hands, the speaker’s race and the makeup of committees will help determine which of these bills ever get a hearing. Most bills filed in any session never reach the governor’s desk.
Sources:
- ABC13 Houston, “Texas lawmakers prepare to file bills ahead of Governor-elect Hinojosa taking office in January” — https://abc13.com/post/midterm-elections-texas-lawmakers-prepare-file-bills-year-gina-hinojosa-is-set-take-office/20024879/
- PBS NewsHour / AP, “Democrats win full control of more state governments and the Texas House” — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/democrats-win-full-control-of-more-state-governments-and-the-texas-house
- KTRE, “Democrats flip Texas House” — https://www.ktre.com/2026/11/04/democrats-flip-texas-house-first-time-more-than-20-years/
- ClickHouston, “Democrats seize power in Texas, ending decades of GOP dominance” — https://www.click2houston.com/news/texas/2026/11/04/democrats-seize-power-in-texas-ending-decades-of-gop-dominance/
- Fox News, “Texas lawmakers file record-breaking 1,500 bills for 2025 legislative session” — https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-lawmakers-file-record-breaking-1500-bills-2025-legislative-session
- Texas Scorecard, on the prefiling period and filing deadline — https://texasscorecard.com/?p=103977
- Olney Enterprise, “Spiller Outlines Priorities for 90th Session” — https://www.olneyenterprise.com/main-news/spiller-outlines-priorities-90th-session
- KCBD, “Texas lawmakers consider THC ban ahead of next legislative session” — https://www.fox34.com/2026/07/27/texas-lawmakers-consider-thc-ban-ahead-next-legislative-session/
- Texas Tribune via Community Impact, “Texas lawmakers file first bills of 2025 legislative session” — https://communityimpact.com/south-central-austin/texas-legislature/texas-lawmakers-file-first-bills-of-2025-legislative-session/
A SWAT standoff in Northeast Austin ended early Sunday morning after police rescued a victim from a second-floor window and took a barricaded, armed suspect into custody.
Austin police officers responded just after 3:30 a.m. to a disturbance involving reported firearm threats on the 11700 block of Rydalwater Lane, where the suspect had trapped himself and the victim inside the residence.
Manor police rescued a previously missing 6-year-old boy on Saturday from a neighborhood pond in the Lagos Enclaves subdivision.
The trial for 2023 Texas shooting spree suspect Shane James Jr. is set to enter its third week today.
Austin city leaders are considering bringing back mobile security cameras at some of the city’s most popular parks following years of vehicle break-ins.
Internal records reveal Austin’s multiple talks with the Cicero Institute about No Wrong Door, raising questions about the conservative group’s potential influence. (Austin Current)
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH /LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
SUNDAY’S PRECIPITATION TOTALS
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Rain and thunderstorms will soak much of southern Texas today, slowing travel and disrupting outdoor activities. A few areas could receive nearly twice their typical November rainfall, potentially leading to serious flash flooding. (AccuWeather)
President Trump says his immigration crackdown may have gone too far even as he elevates Stephen Miller, one of its chief architects, to run the White House after Republicans lost Congress.
Republicans are returning to Washington for a lame-duck session with a shrinking House majority and a short list of priorities, including funding the government, passing military spending and confirming Trump nominees.
Nvidia is investigating reports that CEO Jensen Huang had an affair with a woman suspected of ties to Chinese intelligence, raising new questions about one of the most important companies in the U.S.-China technology race.
After a stinging rebuke last week at the polls, President Trump announced that he would elevate Stephen Miller — a driving force behind some of the most polarizing policies of Mr. Trump’s second term — to chief of staff.
Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, White House reporters for The New York Times, explain what Mr. Miller’s appointment reveals about the president’s priorities for his final two years in office.
(00:54) Honduran Caravan Heads for US Border…
(01:47) Huffines Wants ICE to Investigate Every Government Agency in Texas…
(02:45) Democrat Says She Has Votes to Become Texas House Speaker…
(03:40) Incoming Chief Justice Hopes to Remove Judges’ Religious Freedom Protections…
CNN’s National Correspondent John King joins the podcast to talk about what he calls an “historic epic reckoning”. The man who stands in front of the “Magic Wall” discusses what caused the Democratic “blue tsunami”. King provides insight on races in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and more.
As the state attorney general’s office transitions from Republican to Democratic hands, the Justice Department moves to intervene in the state’s legal battle over Medicaid payments. (Texas Tribune)
Jimmy Spurger, the chief investigator for the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office and a former law enforcement officer with over 20 years of experience, has been charged with his wife’s murder.
Five people from the Houston area, including three children, were killed in a single-vehicle wreck in Seguin, according to city officials.
TEXAS DIESEL PRICES
AAA GAS PRICES
SPORTS
The FedExCup Fall event will bring a elite 120-player field to battle for 500 FedExCup points amidst one of the region’s most stunning backdrop courses.
NFL: It was a triumphant Sunday for the Lone Star State, as both Texas NFL franchises secured critical Week 9 victories to breathe fresh life into their respective seasons.
In Indianapolis, the Dallas Cowboys squeaked out a gritty 27-23 victory over the Colts, backed by Dak Prescott’s 335 passing yards and a stellar 195-yard performance from receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Out west, the Houston Texans put on an offensive masterclass, cruising to a dominant 44-22 road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers behind C.J. Stroud’s five touchdown passes.
The Dallas Cowboys almost blew it for another tough loss Sunday. But they rallied for a late touchdown to secure a 27-23 road win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Dallas blew a 17-7 halftime lead and allowed Indianapolis to take a 23-20 advantage in the game’s final two minutes. But it recovered for a game-winning touchdown drive in the final 1:37 set up by a big pass from Dak Prescott to Ryan Flournoy. (Yahoo! Sports)
C.J. Stroud had been feeling lousy all week, barely practiced and woke up with chills on game day. Then he had his version of Michael Jordan’s flu game.
Stroud threw five touchdown passes, including a pair of season-best 63-yarders to Tank Dell and Kayshon Boutte, and the Houston Texans routed the winless Los Angeles Chargers 44-22 on Sunday. (Assciated Press via CBS Sports)
Both Houston and Dallas head into Week 10 with the Cowboys at home at AT&T Stadium in Arlington to host the San Francisco 49ers, while the Houston Texans travel to Cleveland to face the Browns at Huntington Bank Field.
NBA: Cooper Flagg had 25 points and a career-high 12 assists for his third consecutive double-double and fourth of the season as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 130-93 on Sunday night. (Associated Press via MSN)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Mavericks are right back at tonight hosting Indiana while the Rockets and Spurs also take to the court.
Game 3: #7/7 TEXAS (2-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Grambling State (1-0, 0-0 SWAC)
The Texas Longhorns surge past Missouri as Arch Manning shines with a commanding, turnover-free performance. Is this the beginning of a championship-caliber run for Steve Sarkisian’s squad?
On May 19, 1836, forty miles east of modern-day Waco, the blue-eyed girl somewhere between eight and twelve years old was inside her family’s fort when a group made up mostly of Comanche arrived at the open front gate, ending life as her family knew it.
The attackers killed five adult men from the fort and took two women and three children captive, including Cynthia Ann. At an annual Parker family reunion at the Old Fort Parker Historic Site, Parker relatives gather to grieve, heal, and acknowledge one of the key events that shaped Texas into what it is today.
