Texas House Republicans have passed a measure banning Democrats from chairing committees, achieving a key party goal that has sparked sharp partisan divisions in the state legislature.
For years, Democrats had been allowed to chair some of the Texas House's less consequential committees, including those focused on healthcare — a priority issue for the minority party. While they were unable to push through their own legislative agendas, their leadership roles occasionally allowed them to moderate Republican proposals.
That dynamic had drawn ire from the GOP’s right flank, said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University.
“As a signal that the Republican party is in control and that it's most conservative members are driving the agenda,” Jillson said.
Despite the ban on full committee leadership, Democrats may still hold positions as chairs of subcommittees, though those roles are more limited in scope.
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