Summary
- Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison is urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to rein in Texas governors’ emergency powers before Democrat Gina Hinojosa takes office.
- Harrison wants lawmakers to revive reforms similar to House Bill 911, which would restrict a governor’s ability to suspend or modify laws, require legislative approval for emergency orders lasting beyond 30 days, and allow judicial review.
- Harrison argues that no governor, Republican or Democrat, should have such broad emergency authority and is encouraging Texans to sign a petition urging Abbott to convene a special session before Hinojosa is sworn in.
Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to rein in executive emergency powers before Democrat Gina Hinojosa is sworn in.
Harrison’s call came after Hinojosa was elected the next governor of Texas on Nov. 3.
In Texas, the governor has broad authority to declare a state of disaster under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975. That includes the ability to issue executive orders with the force of law and suspend regulations during declared disasters. The Office of the Governor can also veto legislation, command the state military, and grant pardons or commute sentences.
In 2022, Harrison filed a bill that would have reined in the governor’s powers by keeping the governor from suspending or modifying statutes, sunsetting emergency orders in 30 days if the Legislature did not ratify the order, and subjecting emergency orders to judicial review; however, it died without receiving a committee hearing.
With only 10 weeks left until Democrats take office, Harrison is urging Abbott to “protect Texas from near total Democrat rule,” warning that Hinojosa will “inherit the powers of a dictator.”
“Governor Abbott must take immediate action on the most imminent threat to our liberty in light of the election results: unchecked executive emergency powers. If these are not revoked, Gina Hinojosa will assume not just the powers our state constitution bestows upon a Governor, but will, in effect, inherit nearly all the powers of a dictator,” Harrison told the Daily Signal.
“Due to Texas’s absurd and almost certainly unconstitutional emergency powers laws, Gov. Hinojosa will literally inherit the power to modify laws, ignore laws, or create and enforce laws—including criminal laws—on a whim.”
Harrison is encouraging every Republican in Texas to demand that Abbott call a special session to pass legislation, like House Bill 911, so that no governor, regardless of party, has these broad emergency powers.
“I have demanded we fix this problem since 2022, and it’s still a problem now,” he told the Daily Signal. Hinojosa has already promised to use these executive powers as soon as she takes office. No governor, Republican or Democrat, should have these broad emergency powers. Republicans still have power for 10 more weeks. It’s time for Republicans to act like Republicans and get this done.”
In addition to the letter to Abbott, Harrison has also started a petition for residents to sign to urge Abbott to call a special session.
Hinojosa will be sworn in as governor on Jan. 19, 2027, and will serve for four years.
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[ H/T The Daily Signal ]
