AUSTIN, Texas – State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the Dean of the Texas House, has named a bipartisan group of 12 lawmakers to review the rules that govern the chamber and recommend changes before the next legislative session, according to a news release she posted Thursday, Nov. 12, on her official X account.

Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez will chair the House Rules Workgroup. The group will meet in the weeks leading up to the start of the 90th Texas Legislature on Jan. 12, 2027, according to the release.

“I have named the House Rules Workgroup to review and propose changes to the House rules. I’ve asked this group to recommend rules that we can all trust, even when we disagree. Each Member deserves a fair chance to represent their district,” Thompson wrote on X.

https://x.com/Senfronia4Texas/status/2120967924991042021

Post by State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (@Senfronia4Texas) on X.

Who Is On The Workgroup

The release lists these members of the House Rules Workgroup:

Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez, chair
Rep. Nicole Collier
Rep. Drew Darby
Rep. Yvonne Davis
Rep. Jay Dean
Rep.-elect Odus Evbagharu
Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez
Rep. Charlie Geren
Rep. Ana Hernandez
Rep. Todd Hunter
Rep. Ann Johnson
Rep. Erin Zwiener

The group includes Republicans Drew Darby, Jay Dean, Charlie Geren and Todd Hunter alongside eight Democrats. Evbagharu, a Houston-area Democrat, won the open House District 135 seat in last week’s election and has not yet been sworn in, according to Texas Secretary of State election results.

Why The Rules Matter

The House rules set how the chamber runs day to day, from how bills move through committees and reach the floor to how members debate and vote. The full House will vote on its rules in the early days of the legislative session, according to the release.

“Each Member deserves a fair chance to represent their district,” Thompson said in the release. “I’ve asked this workgroup to recommend rules that we can all trust, even when we disagree.”

Thompson, a Houston Democrat who represents House District 141, has secured more than enough support to become the next Speaker of the House, according to the release. The House elects its speaker on the first day of the session. Earlier this week Thompson named six former speakers to her transition team.

Local Connection

Eagle Pass Rep. Eddie Morales Jr. of House District 74, who represents Maverick County, is among the members who have publicly backed Thompson for speaker. Morales is not among the 12 members named to the rules workgroup.

Also read: Eagle Pass Rep Eddie Morales Backs Senfronia Thompson For Texas House Speaker

Sources: State Rep. Senfronia Thompson news release posted on X, Nov. 12, 2026 | Texas House member page for Rep. Senfronia Thompson | Texas Secretary of State 2026 general election results

Photo: State Rep. Senfronia Thompson. Photo from her official X account.