The Texas House released its long-anticipated committee assignments on Thursday, implementing a historic change: for the first time, all committee chairs are Republicans, while all vice chairs are Democrats. This restructuring follows last month’s passage of new House rules, which also reduced the number of standing committees from 34 to 30.
Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) emphasized the importance of these appointments, stating, “Assigning members to committees is among the most significant and intricate responsibilities of the Speaker — one that demands thoughtful consideration and a delicate balance of many factors.” He assured Texans that the new committee structure is designed for a productive legislative session.
Key Appointments and Political Dynamics
Burrows, who secured the speakership with the support of 36 Republicans and 49 Democrats, faced the challenge of distributing chair positions while adhering to House rules. With some Republican allies ineligible due to experience, he appointed four chairs from the faction that supported Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) for speaker:
Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City) – Agriculture & Livestock
John Smithee (R-Amarillo) – Criminal Jurisprudence
Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) – Elections
Cody Vasut (R-Angleton) – Redistricting
Cook himself was named chair of the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice. Notably, Smithee’s appointment aligns with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative agenda, as he will carry the Senate’s bail reform package in the House.
Other high-profile assignments include:
Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) returning as chair of the powerful Calendars Committee.
Former Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) taking the helm of Licensing & Administrative Procedures.
Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) leading the newly created Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee.
Ken King (R-Canadian) overseeing the influential State Affairs Committee.
Keith Bell (R-Forney) chairing the General Investigating Committee, which previously led the impeachment inquiry into Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Several of Burrows’ most vocal supporters in the speaker race received chairmanships as well. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), Cody Harris (R-Palestine), and Carl Tepper (R-Lubbock) all secured leadership roles, reinforcing Burrows’ coalition.
Democratic Presence and Power Shifts
Though Democrats were excluded from chair positions, they retained leadership in six subcommittees. Additionally, Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) was reinstated as speaker pro tempore, a role he previously held before being removed in 2021 after joining other Democrats in a quorum-breaking walkout over election reform legislation.
The longest-serving members of the House, former Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) and Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), continue to hold the honorary title of "House Deans."
With a Republican-majority across all committees and subcommittees, the Texas House is set to begin its legislative work under a new structure that solidifies GOP control while maintaining some avenues for Democratic influence. How this shift will impact legislative priorities remains to be seen, but the session is poised to be a pivotal one for Texas politics.
