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Issues

Government Accountability

Texans Come First

Greater Efficiency & Accountability

Government should serve Texans, not stand in the way of their lives and livelihoods. Under Speaker Burrows’ leadership, the Texas House focused on making government more efficient, transparent and responsive to Texans.

Lawmakers cut red tape, improved public access to information and strengthened oversight of taxpayer dollars.

Making Government Work Better

Texans expect a government that spends their tax dollars wisely and operates transparently. The 89th Legislative Session delivered major reforms to make state government more efficient, responsive and accountable.

  • Strengthened the Sunset review process to give Texans a greater voice in evaluating state agencies and created a new audit system to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly (HB 12)
  • Established the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office to make doing business in the state easier and more affordable while ensuring unelected bureaucrats do not effectively make new laws through regulations (SB 14)
  • Protected homeowners’ rights and conserved natural resources by preventing overreaching HOAs from fining residents for discolored lawns during droughts or water restrictions (HB 517)

Strengthening Transparency

  • Required local governments to clearly disclose the costs and financial impact of bond proposals before asking taxpayers to approve them (HB 3526)
  • Strengthened accountability for local officials who abuse the public’s trust or violate the law (HB 2715)
  • Ensured allegations of Open Meetings Act violations are fully investigated so government business is conducted in the open (HB 3711)
  • Held government agencies accountable when they fail to comply with Texas public records laws, helping ensure greater transparency for the public (HB 4219)
  • Required greater advance notice for public meetings and made proposed budgets easily available so Texans can stay informed and engaged (HB 1522)
  • Protected the integrity of state contracting by prohibiting surveillance, extortion and other coercive tactics used to influence contract decisions (HB 5061)

Continuing the Work

Speaker Burrows made government efficiency a top priority during the 89th Legislative Session, and that focus continues today. House committees are taking a closer look at state agencies and programs to identify fraud, waste and abuse and strengthen accountability across government.

To support that work, Speaker Burrows created the House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight. This new committee is charged with increasing transparency, evaluating government operations and examining whether public funds are achieving their intended purpose—particularly at the local level.

While rising costs are creating affordability challenges across the country, Texans deserve to know their tax dollars are being spent wisely. The Texas House will continue working to strengthen transparency, accountability and responsible government.