Texas House adopts package of ceremonial resolutions; invites chief justice to joint session

The Texas House on Feb. 11, 2025, adopted a series of ceremonial resolutions honoring counties, colleges and civic groups and approved HCR 5, a concurrent resolution inviting the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to address a joint session of the legislature on Feb. 26, 2025. HCR 5 passed by a constitutionally required record vote of 48-0.

Why it matters: Most items were ceremonial and adopted by unanimous consent with little debate, but HCR 5 required a recorded roll call under the constitution and therefore a formal tally. Several resolutions highlighted workforce and higher-education institutions whose graduates feed local labor markets — a recurring theme in lawmakers' remarks.

HCR 5 and the joint session Representative Steve Leach introduced HCR 5, which invites the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to address a joint session on the state of the judiciary at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. The clerk conducted a record vote required by the constitution; the clerk announced 48 ayes and 0 nays. The resolution sponsors noted the statutory and constitutional procedure requiring the record vote.

Resolutions adopted by unanimous consent By voice vote or…