89R12662 MLH-F
By: Lowe H.J.R. No. 170
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the statewide
election of the speaker of the house of representatives by the
voters of this state.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 9-a to read as follows:
Sec. 9-a. (a) The Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall be elected by the qualified voters of this state at the time
and places of election for members of the Legislature. A person
elected as Speaker serves a term of two years expiring when the
Legislature for which the Speaker was elected ends.
(b) A person may not serve as Speaker of the House unless the
person is qualified to be elected or to serve as a member of the
House of Representatives.
(c) The Speaker of the House:
(1) is ineligible for any office or position for which
a member of the Legislature is ineligible; and
(2) may not be a member of the Senate or the House of
Representatives.
(d) The returns of the election for Speaker of the House
shall be transmitted to the Speaker pro tempore of the House in the
manner provided by law for the transmission of the returns for the
office of Governor and Lieutenant Governor to the Speaker. The
Legislature shall canvass the returns, and the person elected as
Speaker shall be determined in the manner provided by Section 3,
Article IV, of this constitution for the office of Lieutenant
Governor. The canvass of the returns and declaration of election
for the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor under Section
3, Article IV, may not be conducted until a Speaker is elected and
assumes office under this subsection.
(e) A vacancy in the office of Speaker of the House shall be
filled in the same manner as a vacancy in the Legislature. The
Speaker pro tempore of the House of Representatives serves as
Speaker until the vacancy is filled. The election of a member of
the Legislature to fill a vacancy in the office of Speaker creates a
vacancy in that member's legislative seat.
(f) The initial election for Speaker of the House shall be
held in 2026 for a term that begins when the person elected at that
election is declared elected as Speaker when the Legislature
convenes in 2027. This subsection expires January 1, 2030.
SECTION 2. Section 9(b), Article III, Texas Constitution,
is repealed.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the
statewide election of the speaker of the house of representatives
by the voters of this state."