[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6390542,"mediaKeyId","2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5","parentId",2112301,"title","Gov. Greg Abbott urges Senate to expand school choice, address bail practices and manage surplus","audioSeconds",522,"startMs",656830,"endMs",1179170,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5&start=656&end=1179","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5/thumbnail_656830.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6390542/Texas/Gov-Greg-Abbott-urges-Senate-to-expand-school-choice-address-bail-practices-and-manage-surplus","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390542-13affa0149c269ac508dee803f4af33c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162900&Signature=NyZ7SYqQnNQCaSKlR~mXjcr0i8uOGU53kHM33Y4e-6jrJI~iZU0~76QcsVVFAVsE9I2HbAp3qgONKYo0P93V2xeLFEuxrMQWfbY6ha~E-b917-iQRxz8kVuE9zS1wBngQfv4OuipIgb9ZtR04JVmQ89CjwfDDz8lUI6k4iWg0Q3sWWCexoOOAEByWdKL8Ex7lDExPcdXgv502tQRqoYlm98I8wI8HJZsLJkX50lG~FQ09Oa6RklIZrzffMPWy6rbBBCS35Au9FMfjvlM2UY0e8Cjqmv5D26e2MqtdIDCszZOVIb2g7LYsuwAXXtOxfn6M8fnny6GM-C0ROBiScGIkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Senate Sessions","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","Governor Greg Abbott addressed the Texas Senate on Jan. 14, 2025, at the opening of the 89th Legislature, urging senators to use the upcoming 140-day session to protect the Constitution, restrict judicial practices he described as allowing repeat violent offenders back onto the streets, expand school choice, and steward a large projected budget surplus amid broad spending requests.

Abbott framed two guideposts for the Senate. First, he invoked the oath senators had just taken, arguing that lawmakers — not only the judiciary or attorney general — bear responsibility for ensuring laws are followed and that public safety is protected. He gave a specific example: “I don’t see her right now, but I know Senator Bettencourt, I’m thinking of Senator Huffman, to hail from a city where there have been people who have been murdered by people who were let out on bail…you don’t let somebody arrested for murder back out on the streets just to kill somebody else again.”

Second, Abbott urged senators to preserve and expand what he termed Texas’s status as the \"land of opportunity.\" He asked senators to resist rules and regulations that would erode economic openness and to advance policies that increase parental choice in education. \"I can testify for a fact to the urgent pleas of thousands of Texans to please use your voice and use your vote this session to expand the opportunity for every parent to choose the school that's best for their child,\" Abbott said.

Abbott also asked lawmakers to consider the state’s fiscal position in the session’s decisions. He referenced a projected $24,000,000,000 budget surplus and described $35,000,000,000 in budget requests from constituencies across the state, urging \"innovative ways\" to reconcile those figures as the Legislature sets priorities.

The governor closed by emphasizing Texas’s national role in policy innovation and called on senators to pursue state-led solutions on border security, education, and energy policy.

Sources: Floor remarks by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Senate, Jan. 14, 2025.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01/14/2025\tSenate Session Opening Day of the 89th Legislature","oneSentenceSummary","In remarks to the organizing Senate on Jan. 14, 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott urged lawmakers to use their oath and powers to address judges’ handling of bail, expand school choice, and navigate a projected $24 billion surplus against $35 billion in spending requests.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16215,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390546,"Senate adopts concurrent resolution allowing extended adjournment; recess set until Jan. 15",0,3281680,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5&start=3281&end=3281","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5/thumbnail_3281680.jpg","/articles/6390546/Texas/Senate-adopts-concurrent-resolution-allowing-extended-adjournment-recess-set-until-Jan-15","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390546-689d9cf17f39985d600db29606dc4915/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162900&Signature=L79uZjgaGiv41v6IZRfDpuUTxk64KDCib~ZEDTofdoAGamrPA1HF9r9L-rbrZ-YP2H8qER61d9asBXHhTwFHhakTE4vAKJEpuWujtmgT7WhMG-7PYwQY2KC~2hp~hcWG-d8xlLV~zMrvjcQaLKrLiHsGEUHvOUTrev1xp58YJv5B7aTdoTLVT8Pi8hViU5Er7wokZFBoDsLK-L1E--HK2gap4fKz6iKbZbQZgioK24ciBdKPBG1s~5PWs51LHxCcm2JzO-kNF6pYVpOFVKPyWVA-2HmDb5HSqqphSkufVDoXDglxL08Wiexy8LQ6h1W8A8aWqMI2XG1VaNxfhYyl6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7, by Senator Judith Zaffirini, on Jan. 14, 2025, granting permission for either house of the Legislature to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, and ending Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.

Senator Zaffirini moved adoption of the resolution. The secretary called the roll and the chair announced \"There being 31 ayes and no nays, the motion is adopted.\" The transcript records the roll-call reading of senators present and the chair’s announcement of the tally; the resolution therefore passed on the floor by the recorded announcement of 31 affirmative votes and none opposed.

Later in the session the dean of the Senate moved that the Senate recess until 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, after meeting and caucusing at 10 a.m. in the Betty King room. The motion to recess was adopted without objection and the Senate recessed until the stated time.

Votes at a glance
- Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7 (Zaffirini): Adopted. Roll-call reading followed by chair’s announcement of \"31 ayes, no nays.\" Sponsor: Senator Judith Zaffirini (dean of the Senate).
- Motion to recess until 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 (move by Senator Zaffirini): Adopted by unanimous consent/no objection.

The resolution authorizes a procedural adjournment window; it does not itself appropriate funds or enact statutory change. The recess motion set the next floor meeting for 11 a.m. on Jan. 15, with a caucus at 10 a.m.

Sources: Floor proceedings and the secretary’s roll-call reading on Jan. 14, 2025.

","The Texas Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7 (Zaffirini) permitting either house to adjourn for more than three days from Jan. 15–22, 2025, by a recorded statement of '31 ayes and no nays,' and later recessed until 11 a.m. on Jan. 15.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390550,"Sen. Brandon Creighton elected president pro tempore of Texas Senate",1840,2696340,4536830,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5&start=2696&end=4536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112301-e1f8b4cb289965ac9f131e3001ac1cc5/thumbnail_2696340.jpg","/articles/6390550/Texas/Sen-Brandon-Creighton-elected-president-pro-tempore-of-Texas-Senate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390550-4676d986c3fcf45c52bf4eda0e4d127f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162900&Signature=HDNKHD5ELvp4ajyJzBj2WaiD2gPNsmjg7ESj7RC5I5SgMkcFE-87vU8qlV~J2p00HmLkCtSdvXDrZrhx5ps---Q1mQfG5YtNFrRBnj4jEoZG7qNTKCxxI8l4FEuW0kz359t0Te6hOJ94OOqmovi-D9E~etlFSCN9uVU4XNgsXA2SUjHRkRZaLI~SoO-8r4AJk76SsBO7v6L7C5eKzt~OqON5nFeDYc2ytehXKOGVNBzpxBztRuO1heXR2YB4sgoxyoSY~4guk7ZQ75GijLTdWsxQ5wCO3rZXzC6hld4lgB2I9H6G-YizIn0RyV81Nu9g27OCbFFVOnDXgqV8EmyxMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Senator Brandon Creighton was elected president pro tempore of the Texas Senate on Jan. 14, 2025, after State Senator Tan Parker nominated him and State Senator Paul Bettencourt seconded the motion. The election carried by the senators’ standing voice vote and Creighton was sworn in before the chamber.

The post of president pro tempore is the chamber’s frequently called backup presiding officer and, as speakers noted during the ceremony, is third in the line of succession for the state executive branch. The position carries ceremonial responsibilities and occasional presiding duties when the lieutenant governor is absent.

Parker introduced Creighton with a lengthy nomination speech that traced Creighton’s background in agriculture, business and earlier legislative service and urged colleagues to support the nomination. Bettencourt delivered a seconding speech that praised Creighton’s legislative record and work on tax and property-relief measures. After the nomination and second, Parker moved the election and a standing voice vote was taken; the chair announced that “the motion carries” and that Creighton was elected president pro tempore.

Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock administered the oath of office for the president pro tempore. Following the oath, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick presented Creighton to the chamber and Creighton gave brief remarks thanking family, staff and colleagues, noting his years as a senate messenger and his legislative priorities. Creighton said, in part, “I stand here today with profound gratitude and incredible appreciation. To serve as president pro tempore of the Texas Senate is an honor…May God bless the great state of Texas.”

The chair read appointments to a committee associated with the president pro tempore’s office; the secretary read committee members as presented for that committee. The chair directed the newly appointed committee and invited Creighton and his family to join committee members at the rear of the chamber for the formal investiture.

The election was handled on the floor by nomination, second and voice vote; the record shows no roll-call tally for the election itself and the chair announced the motion carried after senators stood. The ceremony and speeches occupied the opening portion of the Senate’s organizational proceedings.

Looking ahead, Creighton signaled he will continue work on legislation he described as priorities in past sessions and reiterated the chamber’s role in crafting state law.

Sources: Floor proceedings and oath administered on Jan. 14, 2025.

","State Sen. Brandon Creighton was elected president pro tempore of the Texas Senate Jan. 14, 2025, after nomination speeches and a voice vote; he took the oath of office and named a small committee for the office.","actionData","errors"]

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Gov. Greg Abbott urges Senate to expand school choice, address bail practices and manage surplus

Senate adopts concurrent resolution allowing extended adjournment; recess set until Jan. 15

Sen. Brandon Creighton elected president pro tempore of Texas Senate