In a Wednesday post on X, Republican Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison urged outgoing Governor Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session aimed at “rein in” the emergency powers that Democrat Gov‑Elect Gina Hinojosa will assume in January 2027. Harrison argued that, with Republicans still controlling the Legislature for the next ten weeks, Texas must act now to preserve the separation of powers and protect liberty.
Legislative push to restrict emergency authority
Harrison, who filed House Bill 911 in December 2022, said the bill would “immediately pass” to restrict what he described as the governor’s “never‑ending emergency powers.” He cited Section 433.002 of the Texas Government Code, which allows a governor to issue emergency directives and amend them during a declared emergency, and warned that past governors have used that authority to change statutes on a whim.
“If these powers are not revoked, Governor‑Elect Hinojosa will inherit nearly all the powers of a dictator,” Harrison told Fox News Digital. He added that the powers have been “abused in the past” and that Hinojosa has pledged to use them on her first day in office, including a proposed “high‑cost emergency” to halt the state’s gas and diesel taxes and freeze residential electricity rates.
Republican response and national commentary
President Trump weighed in on Tuesday, posting on Truth Social that Governor Abbott lost his re‑election because he became a “RINO” – a Republican in name only. “If Greg Abbott hadn’t become a RINO in the last six months of his political life, he wouldn’t have lost,” Trump wrote, adding that Abbott’s return to his original formula was “not pretty.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, a longtime Texas Republican, expressed regret over the “blue tsunami” that swept the state, noting that Texas has not had a Democratic governor since 1994. Cruz also highlighted the simultaneous loss of the state’s Democratic senator, marking a historic shift.
Democratic governor‑elect’s agenda
Hinojosa, the first Latina governor of Texas, campaigned on a platform of bold emergency actions. According to the Texas Tribune, she intends to use emergency powers to address high energy costs and to protect consumers from rising electricity rates. In a Wednesday X post, Hinojosa pledged to “lead with a politics of courage, not convenience,” emphasizing her commitment to using the authority granted by the state constitution.
While Hinojosa’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment, her statements suggest a willingness to employ the emergency powers that many Republicans, including Harrison, view as excessive.
Local legislative landscape
Beyond the governor’s office, several Republican state senators have publicly pledged to “hold the line” against Democratic policy initiatives. The Houston Chronicle reported that these lawmakers intend to scrutinize any legislation introduced by Hinojosa’s administration, especially measures that could expand the scope of executive authority.
The debate over emergency powers underscores a broader partisan clash in Texas, where control of the Legislature will shift to Democrats in January. Republicans argue that maintaining a check on executive authority is essential to preserving constitutional limits and protecting families from unilateral policy changes.
What’s next?
With ten weeks remaining before the new administration takes office, Rep. Harrison and other GOP leaders are expected to draft and introduce legislation aimed at curbing the governor’s emergency authority. Whether the Legislature will act before the transition remains uncertain, but the push reflects a deep‑seated concern among Texas conservatives that unchecked emergency powers could undermine the state’s traditional values of limited government and individual liberty.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
