House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) has now made school choice a policy priority going into the 2025 legislative session, his office announced on Wednesday.
Phelan’s office released a readout of a staff meeting in tandem with the hiring of lobbyist and former state representative Mike Toomey as his new chief of staff. The readout contained run-of-the-mill observations such as welcoming Toomey to the team and a directive to staff to begin developing policy ideas heading into the next session that begins in January.
But the biggest news came within the outlined policy priorities. First, Phelan named job creation and continued economic development as priority items, along with limiting the size of government and cutting wasteful spending.
Then, he went a more notable route.
“[The priorities include] a strong focus on school choice and education funding, with close collaboration planned with Governor Abbott, the Texas Senate, House members and Chairman Brad Buckley of the House Public Education Committee,” the email reads.
This is the first time Phelan has outwardly backed school choice. During last year’s legislative fight over the policy, the speaker maintained a neutral, hands-off posture within his chamber, knowing the policy’s chances to reach a majority vote were tenuous at best.
But it was Gov. Greg Abbott’s top priority.
When it failed, Abbott and education savings accounts supporters waged political war against most of the GOP House incumbents who voted against them. They were successful in flipping enough seats to appear now to have a majority, though a slim one, in support of an ESA program in some form.
The issue is primed for another legislative fight, particularly over the broader package of education funding to which ESAs will have to be tied.
The announcement continues, “Collaboration with the Office of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and the Texas Senate was emphasized as a critical component for developing impactful policy solutions, including reviewing the Senate’s interim charges to identify opportunities to build consensus.”
“Speaker Phelan emphasized that the session’s agenda will ultimately be driven by House members, with his personal priorities being shaped in part by the feedback and perspectives shared with the office.”
The mention of the lieutenant governor is noteworthy given the strung-out feud between the two that boiled over last year, leading Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to actively pursue Phelan’s ouster in the 2024 primary.
It was not successful, however, as Phelan eked out a 366-vote win against David Covey in the runoff. But now Phelan finds himself in a contentious fight over the gavel with two declared opponents for speaker in state Reps. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) and Shelby Slawson (R-Stephenville) and more considering it behind the scenes.
