Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows Outlines 2027 Legislative Priorities

Burrows directs lawmakers to study secession of New Mexico counties, data center development, and property tax relief

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:52pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring the Texas state capitol building in Austin, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in shades of red, orange, and blue, conveying a sense of political dynamism and rapid change in the state.The Texas House Speaker's ambitious legislative agenda for 2027 reflects the state's political divisions and rapid transformation.Houston Today

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has released a list of priorities for the 2027 legislative session, including directives for lawmakers to study the secession of New Mexico counties to Texas, the development of data centers in the state, property tax relief, and more. The priorities overlap with those of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but cover a broader range of policy issues for House committees to tackle.

Why it matters

Burrows' priorities reflect the Republican-led legislature's focus on issues like border security, foreign influence, and reducing property taxes, while overlooking challenges facing Texas families like healthcare affordability and the state's electric grid. The proposal to annex New Mexico counties is unlikely to gain traction but appeals to pro-secession sentiment among Burrows' conservative base.

The details

Burrows instructed the governmental oversight committee to study the implications of adding one or more contiguous counties of New Mexico to Texas, after a proposal emerged in New Mexico to allow its counties to secede. He also directed the State Affairs committee to recommend ways to 'streamline' regulations on data center development, and the Natural Resources committee to examine the water usage of data centers. On property taxes, Burrows wants the Ways and Means Committee to evaluate compressing school district tax rates, increasing the school homestead exemption, and assessing the appraisal system.

  • Burrows released the list of priorities on March 26, 2026 for the 2027 legislative session.
  • The Texas Legislature is set to convene in January 2027.

The players

Dustin Burrows

The Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, who has released a list of legislative priorities for the 2027 session.

Dan Patrick

The Republican Lieutenant Governor of Texas, whose initial priorities for the 2027 session overlap with some of Burrows'.

Greg Abbott

The Republican Governor of Texas, who has unveiled his own proposal to lower property taxes, setting up a potential legislative fight with Burrows and Patrick next year.

Gene Wu

A Democratic state representative from Houston and the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, who criticized Burrows' priorities as failing to address the true challenges facing Texas families.

Council on American-Islamic Relations

The nation's largest Muslim civil rights group, which Texas Republicans have targeted as a 'foreign terrorist organization'.

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What they’re saying

“Following a legislative session defined by historic solutions, it is critical the Texas House remains engaged in thoughtful policymaking and oversight as our state continues to grow and advance.”

— Dustin Burrows, Texas House Speaker

“Every Texas family paying more for health care, more for electricity and more for groceries should look at Republicans' interim plans for their state Legislature and ask what any of it does for them.”

— Gene Wu, Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair

What’s next

The Texas Legislature will convene in January 2027 to consider Burrows' priorities and other legislative proposals.

The takeaway

Burrows' priorities reflect the Texas GOP's continued focus on issues like border security, foreign influence, and reducing property taxes, while overlooking pressing concerns for many Texas families like healthcare affordability and the state's electric grid. The proposal to annex New Mexico counties is unlikely to gain traction but appeals to pro-secession sentiment among Burrows' conservative base.