As the 2025 Texas legislative session winds down ahead of its June 2 adjournment, the atmosphere in the House has been anything but urgent. According to MSN, “Tuesday’s proceedings were less frantic, with a definite methodical tone, that usually reflects a session marked more by political maneuvering than bold reform.” 

Despite Republicans holding a numerical advantage, Democrats have skillfully used procedural rules to stall or kill key conservative legislation. While many Democrat-sponsored bills sailed through, a long list of Republican priorities died quietly in their respective committees or on the Calendars Committee. These included measures to bar funding for libraries hosting drag shows, election integrity bills, and vaccine exemption protections for medical students.  

But perhaps the most telling symbol of misplaced priorities is the $337.4 billion budget that cleared both chambers—a budget built on the back of a $24 billion state surplus. Texans were assured that this surplus would bring meaningful tax relief. Instead, just $6.5 billion—barely more than a quarter—was allocated to that end. That leaves nearly $18 billion unaccounted for when it comes to delivering real, tangible benefits to the people footing the bill.

So where is the rest going? 

Much of it is being funneled into bloated government programs, corporate subsidies, and politically motivated spending that betrays the principles of conservative fiscal stewardship. Nowhere is this more evident than in the education package.

Texans were promised universal school choice. What they received instead was a limited ESA pilot program that will serve fewer than 1.5% of the state’s school-aged children. In return, lawmakers handed out an additional $8.5 billion to government-run schools—on top of the $3 billion already baked into school finance formulas.

Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a win for families. It was a payoff to protect the existing system. It prioritizes education bureaucrats and entrenched lobbyists over students and parents. In a session where bold reform was promised, the unfortunate result was a continuance of the status quo.

This session was billed as an opportunity to deliver on conservative priorities: tax relief, parental empowerment, and fiscal discipline. Instead, Texans got a bloated budget, a diluted school choice plan, and a pile of dead conservative bills. While the rhetoric promised transformation, the results tell a different story—one of caution, concession, and missed opportunities.

The message to taxpayers? Watch not just what your legislators say—but what they fund. Because in the end, budgets reveal priorities. And this budget says the priorities weren’t you. See this tweet by Vince Ginn for more about the budget and where your money is going and it’s not going in your pockets.  

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Please send inquiries about the Dallas GOP Legislative Priority Committee to Liz Biesel and Beth Biesel. View all Legislative Priority posts here.