Texas House approves adjournment resolution after heated debate over inaction

The Texas House of Representatives voted 23-18 on Feb. 4 to adopt SCR 11, a Senate resolution authorizing the legislature to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning Feb. 5 and ending Feb. 11, 2025.

The resolution was carried to the floor by Representative Hunter and passed after a recorded vote required by the constitution. Representative Harrison spoke in strong opposition before the vote, saying the chamber was “wholly without excuse for continued inaction” and accusing House leadership of using extended adjournments to avoid taking up priority legislation.

Harrison said the chamber had “accomplished exactly nothing in the past three weeks” and warned that long adjournments make it easier for leadership to let the legislative clock run out on bills. “The burden of proof is not on those of us conservatives up here who oppose the motion to run out the clock,” Harrison said. “A vote yes is a vote to make a mockery of the legislative process.”

Representative Hunter moved adoption and closed debate. The clerk recorded the vote, and the chair announced, "There being 23 ayes and 18 nays, the resolution is adopted." The record shows Representative Hunter voting "aye;" the roll call produced the tally but did not list a complete public roll-call breakdown in the floor remarks recorded in the transcript.

Separately on the floor, Governor Greg Abbott transmitted a special message that the House read into the journal under Article 3, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution, identifying seven emergency matters he asked the legislature to consider immediately. The governor's message, read to the chamber during opening business, listed the following items: reforming the property tax system and providing relief for Texas property taxpayers; providing funding methods for new water supplies and water and wastewater infrastructure; establishing a universal education savings account program; authorizing salary increases for Texas teachers, including through merit-based compensation programs; expanding career and technical education for students; creating the Texas "scribe command" (as transmitted in the message); and reforming the bail system in Texas to address what the message described as revolving-door bail practices.

After the SCR 11 debate and vote, members used unanimous-consent procedures to adopt a series of ceremonial resolutions recognizing visiting delegations and commemorative days; the chair noted no objections on those items. Representative Schatz later moved that Representative Harrison’s remarks opposing SCR 11 be reduced to writing and placed in the journal; the chair ordered that motion.

Votes at a glance — SCR 11 passed by recorded vote 23-18. Other resolutions adopted (voice/without objection) included HR 120 (Washington's Birthday Celebration Association of Laredo), HR 121 (Laredo Day at the State Capitol), HR 127 (Texas Energy Day), HR 131 (UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day), HR 133 (Cedar Creek Lake Day), HR 143 (Texas Association of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Day), HR 161 (congratulating Beyoncé for Grammy wins), HR 115 (Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Day), HR 169 (Wise County Day), HR 76 (Andrews County Day), HR 31 (Houston East End Chamber of Commerce Day), and HR 169 and other county/community days and recognitions adopted that day.

Why it matters: SCR 11 allows the House to adjourn for a multi-day period, a procedural step that members on the floor tied directly to how and when the chamber can consider priority legislation. Members on both sides framed the adjournment vote as consequential for the calendar and prospects of bills the governor listed as emergency items.

The House adjourned until 10 a.m. Wednesday with the journal entry to reflect the governor's message and Representative Harrison's floor objections as ordered by the membership.