“This is the people’s House,” Burrows said in his first remarks before the chamber as speaker. “I commit to you today, every member—every member—will have a voice. Every district will have a seat at the table.”
Burrows won the speakership with 85 votes over his opponent, Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, who received 55 votes. Forty-nine Democrats joined 36 Republicans in support of Burrows, while nine members did not vote and one was absent.
How we got here
Burrows was first elected to the Texas House in 2014. He led the House Calendars Committee, which determines which bills are sent to the House floor for a vote, during the last two legislative sessions.
Burrows succeeds Phelan, who announced in December he would not seek a third term as speaker amid opposition from the Texas Republican Party. Phelan remains a state representative.
Phelan’s critics decried the former speaker for his efforts to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton for corruption, abuse of office and bribery in May 2023. The Texas Senate later cleared Paxton of 16 charges.
Cook was backed by Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state GOP leadership. He secured the endorsement of the Texas House Republican Caucus in December, but ultimately did not have enough support to become speaker.
About a month before the session kicked off Jan. 14, Gov. Greg Abbott encouraged House Republicans to select a speaker endorsed by the caucus.
“Let me be clear: I worked this entire year to elect conservative candidates who will pass conservative laws, including school choice,” said in a Dec. 11 social media post. “To achieve that goal, we need a Texas House Speaker chosen by a majority of Republicans in accordance with the Republican Caucus rules.”
More details
Burrows acknowledged tension within the Texas GOP in his acceptance speech.
“Our strength lies not in conformity, but in how we harmonize these diverse perspectives into service for this great state,” Burrows said. “Recent days have tested our bonds, yet they've also proved that this institution is greater than any one individual or any faction.”
Texas Republican Party chair Abraham George has vowed to support primary challenges to House Republicans who supported Burrows.
Looking ahead
During the 2023 session, Burrows authored a bill that required all public school campuses to hire armed security guards in the wake of a 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. He also passed legislation, known by its opponents as the “Death Star Bill,” that limits the types of regulations cities and counties can enforce.
In his acceptance speech Jan. 14, Burrows said House lawmakers have “some clear and pressing challenges” to address this year.
“Property taxpayers need relief. Our public schools need support. Our water infrastructure needs investment,” Burrows said. “These aren't Republican issues or Democrat issues—they're Texas issues. Whether your district is urban or rural, coastal or border, your constituents sent you here to ensure their children can prosper, their communities can grow, and their hope for their future does not diminish.”
During a Jan. 14 speech in the Senate, Abbott listed two priorities that he hopes lawmakers will tackle this session. He said the legislature should tighten bail restrictions, which could include blocking people accused of violent crimes from receiving bail if they have prior convictions.
“You don't let somebody arrested for a murder back out on the streets just to kill somebody else again,” Abbott told senators. “It is going to be up to us in the Senate and the House, and me working with you, to make sure we do something about that so we stop criminals from killing innocent people in our state.”
He also asked lawmakers to pass a school voucher package, which would give families public money to send their children to private schools. House lawmakers rejected a voucher proposal in late 2023, but Abbott said in November that he expected the policy to succeed this year.
“Please use your voice and use your vote this session to expand the opportunity for every parent to choose the school that's best for their child,” Abbott said. “There’s a hunger for that.”
After Abbott’s remarks, Patrick, who oversees the Senate, said senators would support the governor’s priorities and were “ready to go to work.”
“We passed that school choice bill five times. We passed that bail bill five times,” Patrick said. “I don't know who my partner is going to be across the hall, but we've passed these bills many times.”
The Texas House will reconvene at 10 a.m. Jan. 15, while the Senate is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m.
Jessica Shorten contributed to this article.
