Texas GOP lawmaker wants to limit governor’s powers after Hinojosa win

Texas GOP lawmaker wants to limit governor's powers after Hinojosa win.

Key points

• As Democrats James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa maintained victories, history was created in Texas during the 2026 midterm elections.
• The lawmaker argues that the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 grants the governor overly broad authority.
• Natassia Paloma may be reached at [email protected], @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
• A Texas lawmaker is calling for a special legislative session to limit the governor's emergency powers before Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office in January.
• The proposed changes would be similar to a bill from 2023 that sought to limit the governor's power to suspend laws.

Texas GOP lawmaker wants to limit governor's powers after Hinojosa win. Natassia Paloma USA TODAY NETWORK. Talarico, Hinojosa lead historic election night for Democrats.

For context, a Texas Republican lawmaker is urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to limit the governor's emergency powers.

Notably, the request follows the election of Democrat Gina Hinojosa as the state's next governor.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker argues that the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 grants the governor overly broad authority.

Notably, the proposed changes would be similar to a bill from 2023 that sought to limit the governor's power to suspend laws.

Meanwhile, a Texas lawmaker is calling for a special legislative session to limit the governor's emergency powers before Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office in January.

State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott on Nov. 4, urging him to convene a special session after Democrats' historic victories in the Nov. 3 election. Harrison has additionally kicked off a petition, urging Abbott to take action.

Harrison argues that Texas law grants the governor sweeping emergency powers that should be restricted before the state's first Democratic governor in decades takes office.

"Due to Texas's absurd (and almost certainly unconstitutional) emergency powers laws, Gov. Hinojosa will literally inherit the power to modify laws, ignore laws, or create and enforce laws – including criminal laws – on a whim, " Harrison wrote in the letter to Abbott.

Under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, the governor has broad authority during declared disasters, including the ability to matter executive orders with the force of law and suspend certain regulations that could interfere with emergency response efforts. The governor additionally has authority to veto bills, lead the state's military forces, grant commutations of punishment and pardon, and more, according to the Office of the Governor.

Harrison is calling for legislation similar to House Bill 911. It he introduced during the 2023 legislative session. The proposal sought to limit the governor's authority to suspend laws, place restrictions on emergency orders and provide extra legislative oversight.

"I warned years ago that NO governor, Republican or Democrat, should have these broad emergency powers, " Harrison wrote. "Now that Texas has elected a Democrat governor, the urgency is undeniable, and inaction is intolerable." More: Texas governor election results 2026: Greg Abbott vs. Gina Hinojosa.

Although they must state his purpose in the proclamation calling the legislators to special session, the Texas Constitution states, the governor may call at any time and for any reason.

USA TODAY reached out to Gov. Abbott to see if he's considering a special session ahead of Hinojosa's swearing in.

Natassia Paloma may be reached at [email protected], @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

For now, texas GOP lawmaker wants to limit governors powers after Hinojosa win remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.