Texas Senate

  • Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presided over the Senate, where Senator Brandon Creighton of Conroe was elected President Pro Tempore on opening day.
  • On January 17, Senate Committees were announced by Patrick. 
  • View Patrick’s list of Senate Committees
  • January 29, Lt. Gov. Patrick announced the first 25 of his 40 priority bills of the 89th session. View the top priorities.

Texas House

  • Secretary of State Jane Nelson presided over the House of Representatives until a new Speaker of the House was elected.
  • The race for Speaker of the House began as a three-way contest among Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield), and Rep. Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos (D-Richardson). In the initial round of voting, Burrows led with 71 votes, followed by Cook with 56, and Ramos with 23. As no candidate secured a majority, a runoff was held between Burrows and Cook. In the final vote on January 14, Burrows was elected Speaker of the House, securing 85 votes—including 49 from Democrats and 36 from Republicans—defeating Cook, who received 65 votes.
  • On February 13, Speaker Burrows announced the House committees with their chairs and vice chairs.  
  • Each committee is chaired by a Republican and vice chaired by a Democrat. 
  • Tom Craddick (R- Midland) and Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) were reappointed as the Deans of the Texas House (based on their time in the House). View the list of House Committees.

Governor Sets Legislative Priorities

  • On February 2, Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address, outlining seven emergency items for immediate legislative attention.  Several Texas REALTORS® legislative priorities were included as emergency items. The items are property tax relief, water infrastructure investment, school choice, teacher pay raises, career training, bail reform, and the creation of a Texas Cyber Command. 
  • Abbott also highlighted the growing problem of squatters as a criminal activity about which he would take action.
  • Concerns over squatters have grown in Texas. With overwhelming support from association members across the state, Texas REALTORS® adopted a new policy position on squatters in December 2024 to ensure property owners’ rights and interests are protected from criminal trespassers. 
  • Texas REALTORS® remains an influential voice and strong presence in Texas policymaking and economy. 

Texas REALTORS® staff and volunteer leaders continue their ongoing efforts to highlight priorities and specific bills that the association believes ought to be supported or opposed.  

REALTOR® Voices at the Texas Capitol

Texas REALTORS® Public Policy Oversight Committee Chairman Dixon Holman of Arlington was invited to testify before the Senate Committee on Local Government February 11 in support of Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) and Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) to increase the homestead tax exemption to $140,000. Watch Chairman Holman’s testimony at the 50-minute 43-second mark.

Homestead Exemption Bill Passed in the Senate

SB 4 and SJR 2 were approved by the full Senate on February 13 and now await action in the House. The bill, if passed, would amend the Tax Code to increase the mandatory residence homestead exemption for school district property taxation from the current $100,000 to $140,000.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Announces $700 Million in Awards for Broadband Infrastructure Projects

Following the passage of REALTOR®-supported legislation in 2021 and 2023, the Texas Comptroller’s Broadband Development Office continues its efforts to expand broadband access to low- and no-service areas of Texas. On January 22, Comptroller Hegar announced the second round of awards for the “Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas Program,” totaling $701.9 million.

Read Comptroller Hegar’s statement.

REALTOR® Day at the Texas Capitol is 35 days away! 

It’s not too late! Join the largest grassroots advocacy event in Texas on March 26. Contact your association for more information. 

  • Visit the RDATC home page.
  • Read the RDATC FAQs.
  • For legislator details, visit the REALTOR® Day portal.
  • Share this promo video with  your fellow association members.
  • On March 26, meet us at the Texas Capitol’s south steps:
    • 10:00 a.m.: Rally and welcome by 2025 Chairman Christy Gessler
    • 10:20 a.m.: Group photo

REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts

Don’t miss a critical call for action when legislation affecting real estate needs your attention. Sign up for REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts. Simply text “txrealtor” to 30644 to sign up.  Alerts are few and only when key action is needed. So, if you get a text from us, it’s the real deal. 

Winter Meeting Governmental Affairs Awards

During the Governmental Affairs Forum, advocacy efforts were awarded and updates on legislative and real estate activities were given. Congratulations to the recipients of these awards.

  • Strikeforce Award Winners:
    • Diana Barnett, Fort Hood Area
    • Sandra Breedlove, Collin County
    • Amy Hanson, Collin County
    • Chad Hovde, Bryan College Station Regional
    • Brenda Job, Jasper Area (now Lufkin)
    • Ken Kiel, Four Rivers
    • Olivia Kiritsy, Lufkin
    • Kelly Rudiger, Collin County
    • Jeff Varnell, MetroTex
    • Taylor Walcik, MetroTex
    • Sharon Williamson, Longview Area
    • Carie McNeil, Permian Basin
  • The Grassroots Advocate of the Year Award went to Jeff Varnell.
  • The Mark Lehman Governmental Affairs Achievement Award went to Collin County Area REALTORS® accepted by Jason Petrie, Government Affairs Director.