The Blast - April 18, 2025

28 days for the House to pass legislation that originated in the House
45 days until sine die

IN TODAY’S BLAST

• Abbott is ready to sign the voucher bill

• 2026 and the “up or out” candidates

• VanDeaver “too far down” the anti-voucher road

ABBOTT IS READY TO SIGN THE VOUCHER BILL

Senate Bill 2 has been blessed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott, and could be going to the governor for a signature very shortly.

Patrick kicked off the revelry today when he announced that he is recommending that the Senate concur on SB 2, approving the House’s version of the bill that passed yesterday.

“Ready to sign this bill into law,” Abbott responded.

“The House and Senate are rowing in the same direction on this and so many other issues,” Burrows added.

One place where the House and Senate have not been aligned is on House Bill 2, the school finance portion of the House’s “two-step” plan. The Senate doesn’t have an omnibus funding bill like the first step of the two-step.

Top senators have expressed opposition to increasing the basic allotment. HB 2 would raise the basic allotment from $6,160 to $6,555 and tie it to property values.

The Senate would fund public schools in other ways. The chamber has passed teacher pay raises in the form of Senate Bill 26, school safety boosts with Senate Bill 260 and special education funding in Senate Bill 568. The House kicked SB 260 back to the Senate yesterday, but SB 26 awaits a hearing and SB 568 hasn’t been assigned a committee yet.

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2026 AND THE “UP OR OUT” CANDIDATES

For any state senator thinking about running for another office, a major factor in their decision will be whether their Senate seat is on the ballot next year.

As a quick reference, here is the universe of senators who have announced or are considering a bid for higher office, whether publicly or according to chatter under the dome. We’ve divided them by when they’re next up for reelection. Those with an asterisk have publicly acknowledged that they are considering a run, and a second asterisk means they’ve already announced.

2026:

• Republicans

  • Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe

  • Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills

  • Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola

  • Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

  • Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston**

• Democrats

  • Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio

2028:

• Republicans

  • Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston

  • Joan Huffman, R-Houston*

  • Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound*

• Democrats

  • Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas

In that same vein, comptroller candidate and sitting Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick isn’t on the ballot again till 2030. Attorney General Ken Paxton had to make the calculation in challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, and U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, and Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, would have to as well, should they get serious about a campaign.

For any senator up in 2026, they have to consider whether running for higher office is worth the risk of giving up their cushy, seldom vulnerable seat in the state’s upper chamber.

Up or out, as they say.

Middleton has already taken the plunge into the attorney general race, applying pressure to others, especially those — like Hughes — who need to carve out a lane if they still want to be an elected official come January 2027. A bid by newly announced “consider”-er Huffman would further box out Hughes.

Those eyeing a comptroller bid are falling behind now that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has endorsed former state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas.

It all adds up as pressure to announce a decision in the coming weeks.

There’s also the fundraising questions to consider. The Texas moratorium on political contributions is in place till June 23, and applies to statewide officeholders besides judicial officers and members of the Legislature, as well as PACs benefiting or opposing either category and legislative caucuses.

That’s why it’s notable that Middleton, an oil and gas businessman, has said he plans to stake at least $10 million of his own money on the race. And yesterday, Middleton announced a list of endorsers, including some top conservative donors.

That’s a lot of money to go up against if the campaign is do or die for you.

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VANDEAVER “TOO FAR DOWN” THE ANTI-VOUCHER ROAD

From the cutting room floor of Jasper Scherer’s Abbott hardball story yesterday:

When the House passed its school voucher bill Thursday morning, only two Republicans joined the Democratic minority in opposition — a major about-face from the 21 GOP members who helped defeat the last voucher proposal in 2023.

All but one of those 21 Republicans lost their primaries, retired or returned to the House and flipped to support Senate Bill 2. The one stubborn holdout: Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston.

VanDeaver felt he had no choice but to stick to his guns, he told the Tribune in a Thursday phone interview while making the five-hour drive back to his rural district in the northeast corner of Texas.

“I was in a position that I was just pretty much dug in that I was not going to vote for anything with an ESA,” VanDeaver said. “Based on my experience, my background, my personal philosophy, my district, my last race, I think I was too far down the road and anti-voucher to ever be able to vote for something like that.”

VanDeaver fended off a primary challenge last year from an Abbott-backed opponent, Chris Spencer. Abbott kicked in about $700,000 to Spencer’s campaign, a majority of his haul.

Since the election, VanDeaver said he has “had some good conversations with the governor” and remains committed to advancing Abbott’s non-voucher priorities. But when they last discussed vouchers, VanDeaver said, “I was very straight with the governor that this is just where we differ.”

“I accept that, and I know it was a priority for the governor, and I know it’s important to him, and I congratulate him on his success,” VanDeaver said. “I’m committed to doing everything I can to make this [voucher] program hugely successful for the children of Texas, because I think that’s what they need. I’m always for success for our children.”

Asked whether he plans to run for reelection in 2026, VanDeaver said he is leaning toward seeking another term but, as a rule of thumb, never makes that decision while the legislative session is ongoing. If every member made that call before sine die, he quipped, “I’m not sure anyone would run for reelection.”

— Jasper Scherer

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Committee highlights next week:

• The House Ways and Means Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday to consider a couple dozen bills, including measures to clamp down on Project Connect.

• The Senate Business and Commerce Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Tuesday to consider eight bills, including a couple of preemption bills by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, Senate Bill 2858 and Senate Bill 3016.

• The House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Wednesday to consider the film incentives program proposal (House Bill 4568) and five other measures.

• The House State Affairs Committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Friday to consider four dense bills:

  • House Bill 229 by Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Lakeway, codifying that there are only two sexes

  • House Bill 3990 by Rep. Hillary Hickland, R-Belton, limiting the flags flown at government buildings to the official U.S. flag, the Texas flag, or city or county flags

  • House Bill 5082 by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, creating a civil penalty for local governments that fail to comply with state drug laws, including by adopting non-prosecution policies for marijuana possession and distribution

  • House Bill 5510 by Leach, cracking down on online abortion pill distributors and facilitating out-of-state travel for abortions

View the full list of upcoming committee notices here and here.

The House and Senate will convene at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

View the House and Senate floor calendars here and here.

TX-SEN: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced endorsements from officials like U.S. Reps. Lance Gooden and Troy Nehls, former U.S. Rep. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs and a host of state House GOP hardliners, and a long list of other notable supporters … including Adam Loewy?

• A take on yesterday’s House floor proceedings from former state Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster: “Today, I’m saddened by the events on the House memorial calendar. As my Catholic faith celebrates Maundy Thursday. Maundy in Latin meaning “commandment,” referring to Jesus’ command to his disciples to love one another as he loved them. I ask, may those that served to join me in reflecting on Jesus’ words for the remainder of Easter and that we all come back loving each other as he loves us.”

• Punchbowl News reported that the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) and Houston-based EnCap Investments sent letters last week to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, and Nathanial Moran, R-Tyler, urging them to not touch the special tax treatment for “carried interest” that President Donald Trump would like to eliminate. Cornyn serves on the Senate Finance Committee and its taxation subcommittee and the House members serve on Ways and Means.

• U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, will hold a town hall on Monday evening.

“Court orders immigration officials to restore legal status of three people who came to Texas on student visas” by Jessica Priest of The Texas Tribune

“Texas hemp farmers fear full THC ban would nip industry in the bud” by Stephen Simpson of The Texas Tribune

“Brian Busby, Anthony Hutchison found guilty on all counts in HISD corruption trial” by Monroe Trombly of Houston Landing

“There are 70-plus songs named “Texas.” We ranked ’em from worst to best.” by Dan Solomon of Texas Monthly

Do you or someone in your office have a birthday you’d like mentioned? Email us.

(April 19) State Rep. John McQueeney, R-Fort Worth
(April 20) Kevin Matula, director of government relations at USAA

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