Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows appears to be taking a bold step toward redrawing the state map.

On March 26, he directed a new Select Committee on Governmental Oversight to study the constitutional, fiscal, and economic implications of annexing one or more contiguous New Mexican counties into Texas — an idea sparked by New Mexican counties seeking to break away from their deep-blue state.

 

“Study the constitutional, statutory, fiscal, and economic implications of adding to Texas one or more contiguous counties of New Mexico,” Burrows directed. “Recommend drafts of any requisite legislation or resolutions to initiate the process.”

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Burrows told the committee to outline any procedural steps to annex parts of New Mexico. He also asked for a detailed analysis of the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution, the New Mexico Constitution, federal and state law, and judicial precedent. 

After state legislators in New Mexico filed a bill to let counties secede, Burrows backed the idea in February, as The Dallas Express reported at the time. If it passes, it could let three or more contiguous counties leave New Mexico for Texas.

“Texas would gladly welcome Lea County back to Texas, where it rightfully belongs,” he posted on X at the time. “Let the people of Lea County decide!”

 

Lea County sits in the southeastern-most corner of New Mexico, with Texas to the east. The Republic of Texas encompassed the region after its beginning in 1836, but the federal government purchased the land in 1850.

Should the region return to Texas, Burrows suggested oil and gas producers would “welcome the change,” as The Dallas Express reported.

In New Mexico, Republican state Reps. Randall Pettigrew and Jimmy Mason introduced HJR 10 in January. It was sent to the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee, where it was “postponed indefinitely.”

If the bill were to pass, at least 15% of voters in three or more contiguous counties must first petition for a secession vote. This would trigger a special election, requiring two-thirds support. Then, county commissioners, the U.S. Congress, and the president would have to sign off.

In Oregon, east of the mountains from Portland, rural Republican counties are pushing to join neighboring Idaho. So far, 13 counties have passed measures to discuss secession. 

The Idaho state House passed a non-binding resolution in February 2023 to support Oregon counties’ right to secede, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. But the movement’s organizers have been struggling to sway Oregon leaders, who must first sign off. At the time of publication, Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek had reportedly ignored organizers for more than 624 days.