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Legislature

Republican lawmaker urges Abbott to limit governor emergency powers

State Representative Brian Harrison called on Gov. Greg Abbott to restrict emergency powers before Democrat Gina Hinojosa takes office as governor on January 19, 2027. Harrison said the powers are too broad and proposed reviving his 2022 bill (HB 911) to limit them.

Where
Statewide
When
Nov. 5, 2026
Sources
Reported by 4 outlets

Counties: Ellis

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Coming up

  • Tuesday, January 19, 2027. Gina Hinojosa sworn in as Governor of Texas1 2

Who's involved

  • Brian HarrisonState Representative, Ellis County
  • Greg AbbottGovernor of Texas
  • Gina HinojosaGovernor-elect of Texas
  • Nathan JohnsonAttorney General-elect of Texas

The facts

  • Gina Hinojosa, first Democrat elected Texas governor since 1995, will be sworn in January 19, 2027.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Hinojosa is the first Latina to hold the office of Texas governor.1
  • Brian Harrison filed HB 911 in December 2022 to limit emergency powers scope and duration.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • HB 911 was referred to committee in March 2023 but never advanced.1
  • Governor emergency powers are set forth in Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code, the Texas Disaster Act.1

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Brian Harrison Without action, Governor Hinojosa will inherit the powers of a dictator.1 2
  • Brian Harrison Governor will have power to modify laws, ignore laws, or create and enforce laws on a whim.2
  • Nathan Johnson Harrison's proposal is irresponsible.2
  • Brian Harrison Never-ending emergency powers are antithetical to representative government and render people powerless.1

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • Greg Abbott Loses Texas, Republican Wants His Powers Curbed Before Democrat Inherits Them: 'Dictator!'

    International Business Times UK

  • Brian Harrison urges Greg Abbott to curb emergency powers

    Wonderwall

  • Republican lawmaker urges Greg Abbott to end some powers

    Knewz

  • Brian Harrison Urges Abbott to Limit Texas Governor’s Emergency Powers

    The Daily Signal

  • Republican lawmaker urges outgoing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to end some gubernatorial powers

    www.wonderwall.com

Sources

Outlets: 2 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Greg Abbott Loses Texas, Republican Wants His Powers Curbed Before Democrat Inherits Them: 'Dictator!' International Business Times UK Not rated, November 5, 2026
  2. Brian Harrison urges Greg Abbott to curb emergency powers Wonderwall Not rated, November 5, 2026

Also reported by Knewz, The Daily Signal.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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All corrections and updates

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Texas Democrats file bills on Medicaid, wages, ICE agreements as session opens

Democrats in the Texas Legislature filed legislation Monday as bill filing opened for the 2027 session. Proposals included Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increases, ending data center tax breaks, banning Flock cameras, repealing ICE partnership requirements for sheriffs, forbidding border wall construction at state parks, ending school vouchers, boosting per-pupil school funding, legalizing marijuana, and building high-speed rail from Dallas to San Antonio.

up to $10 billion a year for medicaid expansion annual funding to Texas

State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, filed Medicaid expansion bill; State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed companion Medicaid bill; Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, filed school nurse notification bill and 3 more

Reported by 5 outletsFound via Google News

Man arrested and charged in Gaines County homicide

Matthew Shane Zachary was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a homicide at a residence in Gaines County. The Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers are leading the investigation with assistance from the Gaines County Sheriff's Office.

$750,000 for bond

Matthew Shane Zachary, Suspect arrested and charged with murder; Gaines County Sheriff's Office, Law enforcement investigating homicide; Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers, Leading the investigation

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

Texas governor-elect proposes new rules for data center operations

Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa said in a CNN interview that the state should pause work with data centers until protections for residents are in place. She promised to introduce laws to change the state's approach and said communities should have a role in deciding whether data centers are built there.

Gina Hinojosa, Texas governor-elect; Jake Tapper, CNN interviewer

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

T. Cullen Davis, Texas oil tycoon, dies at 93

T. Cullen Davis, a Texas oil tycoon acquitted in 1970s murder and murder-for-hire trials, died Friday at his Fort Worth-area home. He was 93.

T. Cullen Davis, Texas oil tycoon who died; Trey Davis, son of T. Cullen Davis; Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes, Davis' attorney and 4 more

Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

El Paso sheriff arrests man in $155,000 cargo theft investigation

El Paso County Sheriff's Office arrested 38-year-old Laron Lenard Watts and charged him with theft of property valued at $150,000 or more after he reportedly refused to return a shipment of fiber-optic cable, trailer, and container worth $155,000 total following a payment dispute.

$155,000 for estimated value of property (shipping container, trailer chassis, fiber-optic cable)

Laron Lenard Watts, 38-year-old man arrested and charged with theft; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement agency conducting investigation and making arrest

Reported by 3 outletsFound via Google News

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