(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast - April 29, 2025 [1] ['The Texas Tribune'] Date: 2025-05 4 days until election day for local elections 17 days for the House to pass legislation that originated in the House 34 days until sine die But now that Abbott and the president are handing out the Trump card, what leverage will the governor have on the array of other priority measures that have yet to move in the House? It’s also a reward to members who endured pressure from the governor’s office to play along on SB 2 and block an amendment that would’ve asked voters to weigh in on the education savings account program. Trump’s endorsement could be a major payout to members, many of whom still face challenges in their districts, whether for supporting Burrows and the House’s bipartisan coalition or acquiescing on school vouchers. At least three more members have censures pending from their county parties, on top of the censures already completed. Burrows is seen as the through line from former Speaker Dade Phelan , whose primary challenger Trump backed in 2024. Getting Trump on Burrows’ side could solidify his support in the 2027 session, or even this session. Burrows won the speakership this year despite the majority of the Texas House Republican Caucus backing Rep. David Cook , of Mansfield. As many as two dozen House Republicans still oppose Burrows and House leadership at nearly every move. Moreover, Trump said that he would be endorsing House Speaker Dustin Burrows in that role. House Republicans tell The Blast that Abbott spoke to members for two minutes, telling them that the president called to say he would endorse everyone who got “school choice across the finish line.” Gov. Greg Abbott told Texas House Republicans today that President Donald Trump will endorse every member who voted for Senate Bill 2 , relaying the message from the man himself. González, a Democrat from Clint, near the border, voted in favor of the proposed constitutional amendment tightening bail practices in the 2021 regular session, although that measure died when Democrats broke quorum. “The woman was slaughtered in Rep. Mary González ’s district and yet, she refuses to support tougher bail that could prevent murders like this,” Abbott told the sheriffs Tuesday. “This is not a right or left issue — this is a common sense public safety issue.” For the third straight session, Abbott has declared tightening bail practices for violent offenses an emergency item. But such a change requires a constitutional amendment — and the support of at least a dozen House Democrats. He highlighted the arrest of a man in the El Paso area accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death months after being released from jail on $1,500 bond following an initial arrest for a family violence charge. Abbott said the state must fix its “deadly and broken bail system” that releases “career criminals” with little to no bail onto streets that sheriffs are charged with patrolling. The governor then pivoted his remarks to his next priority under the Pink Dome: bail policy. State budget drafts call for allocating approximately $6.5 billion for border security over the next biennium. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in 2021 in response to the Biden administration’s immigration policies; it has cost about $11 billion to date — which the state has asked Congress to reimburse . Speaking at a meeting in Austin of the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition, Abbott told the law enforcement leaders that approximately $110 million earmarked in the state’s budget negotiations for local police participating in Operation Lone Star will remain in place for now. Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday said the state will be able to reevaluate its border security priorities — and what exactly to spend money on — thanks to a quiet border growing quieter but vowed to maintain a presence there of Texas National Guard troops and Department of Public Safety troopers. YVONNE DAVIS AIRS HER GRIEVANCES Democrats completely backed down from their blockade of Republican-backed House joint resolutions today, but not without airing grievances about the sluggish pace of their own bills. As Rep. Stan Lambert, R-Abilene, was laying out a proposed constitutional amendment, Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, grilled Lambert with several pointed questions. Davis didn’t have questions about the measure, House Joint Resolution 5, which would give the Texas State Technical College System a funding mechanism for capital infrastructure. Her complaint was that she has legislation that hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing. Meanwhile, HJR 5 was one of the first measures on the House calendar this session, although Democrats held it and other measures hostage for weeks in an attempt to draw concessions from Republicans. Democrats started letting their block slip yesterday. “You need to understand the value of all of us having the ability to get our legislation set in a timely manner,” Davis said. “That’s the question that I’m raising: Do you think that we deserve that same respect?” “Do you think you’re the only one who’s intelligent enough to determine what good policy is?” she asked a minute later. There was plenty more of it. Lambert is chair of the House Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee, where all four of Davis’ bills referred to that committee sit untouched despite being referred in late March or early April. In total, only three of her 18 bills have been reported out of a committee, and none have been scheduled for the floor, which would get any member antsy given the time crunch on passing House bills. At multiple points, Lambert tried to dismiss her questions, saying he was focused on HJR 5. The member in the speaker’s chair typically polices the debate to keep things on topic. Yet, this time, Speaker Dustin Burrows looked on, gaveling Davis down only once. Giving Davis that long of a leash let the Democratic caucus chop up 45 seconds of the exchange and post it to social media, a small win for the House minority. Davis’ complaints were similar to those the House’s right flank has had about the Texas GOP’s priorities stalling in the process. 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