Texas House to study feasibility of taking New Mexico counties

The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives has directed a legislative committee to study the addition of New Mexico counties to the state of Texas. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has directed the Select Committee on Governmental Oversight to study the constitutional, statutory, fiscal and economic feasibility of adding “one or more contiguous counties of New Mexico” to the state of Texas. The House Speaker’s directive also orders the select committee to provide a detailed analysis of the U.S., Texas and New Mexico constitutions, federal and state laws, and judicial precedent that would allow for the addition of counties. The directive also tells the select committee to identify and outline the steps it would take at the state and federal levels to admit part of New Mexico into Texas. In the 2026 legislative session, two New Mexico State representatives introduced a joint resolution to propose an amendment to the state constitution that would allow for the secession of three or more counties. The bill never moved past introduction in the Roundhouse.

The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives has directed a legislative committee to study the addition of New Mexico counties to the state of Texas.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has directed the Select Committee on Governmental Oversight to study the constitutional, statutory, fiscal and economic feasibility of adding “one or more contiguous counties of New Mexico” to the state of Texas.

The House Speaker’s directive also orders the select committee to provide a detailed analysis of the U.S., Texas and New Mexico constitutions, federal and state laws, and judicial precedent that would allow for the addition of counties.

The directive also tells the select committee to identify and outline the steps it would take at the state and federal levels to admit part of New Mexico into Texas.

In the 2026 legislative session, two New Mexico State representatives introduced a joint resolution to propose an amendment to the state constitution that would allow for the secession of three or more counties.

The bill never moved past introduction in the Roundhouse.