(Texas Scorecard) – As the Texas House prepares to consider the largest budget in state history, one Republican lawmaker is raising the alarm over a move to block public testimony—accusing House leadership of shutting Texans out of the process.
Brian Harrison
State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian), a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, issued a blistering letter Friday to Chairman Greg Bonnen (R–Friendswood) after it was revealed that no public testimony would be allowed during Monday’s hearing on the proposed state budget.
“I was appalled to see that you made the decision to ban the public from offering their thoughts and concerns on this budget,” Harrison wrote. “While you have allowed ample time for bureaucrats to come before us to argue for more tax money, the Texans whose money we are stealing are now prohibited from speaking to the Committee.”
Though the Texas Senate is required by its rules to allow public testimony before advancing a bill from a committee, the House operates differently. While public comment is common for high-profile legislation, including the budget, it is not mandatory—and in recent years, testimony has often been limited to invited guests.
But with lawmakers poised to advance a record-breaking spending plan—including what Harrison has described as “bloated,” “liberal,” and “pro-DEI” provisions—he says keeping taxpayers out of the room is indefensible.
“I’m sick and tired of this body prioritizing bureaucrats over taxpayers,” wrote Harrison. “It is obscene to silence the very Texans we are supposed to be working for.”
Greg Bonnen
The letter follows a heated exchange last month during a subcommittee hearing in which Harrison pressed members of the Texas Water Development Board over language in their strategic plan suggesting the agency was making hiring decisions based on race—despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s order banning state agencies from using DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies in hiring.
The tense hearing saw Democrat lawmakers rebuke Harrison for his line of questioning, with one member accusing him of forcing an agency official “to defend 246 years of systemic racism.”
The confrontation sparked an immediate response from leadership, with House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock) and Appropriations Chair Bonnen both condemning Harrison’s tone. In fact, Bonnen previously described Harrison’s conduct as “completely unacceptable and beneath the dignity of this institution.”
Now, in his letter, Harrison is throwing those exact words back at Bonnen, writing: “Your conduct is completely unacceptable and beneath the dignity of this institution.”
The House Appropriations Committee is set to meet Monday, March 31. As of now, public comment is not on the agenda.