{"id":248371,"date":"2026-04-14T00:28:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T00:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/248371\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T00:28:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T00:28:08","slug":"texas-lawmakers-explore-annexing-eastern-new-mexico-counties-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/248371\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Lawmakers Explore Annexing Eastern New Mexico Counties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AAs Texas lawmakers explore annexing eastern New Mexico counties, a solitary oil pump stands as a symbol of the region’s energy resources and the political battles over their control.Lubbock Today<\/p>\n

Texas lawmakers are considering expanding the state’s border for the first time since the Compromise of 1850, with the Texas Governmental Oversight Committee exploring the possibility of annexing Lea, Roosevelt and Eddy counties in eastern New Mexico. The proposal was initiated by state representatives in New Mexico, who have expressed frustration with the state government in Santa Fe and believe they would be a better fit with the politics and policies of West Texas.<\/p>\n

Why it matters<\/p>\n

This potential border expansion would mark the first major change to Texas’ boundaries since the 1800s and could have significant political, economic, and regulatory implications for the affected counties and their residents. The move is driven by ideological and economic factors, but also raises concerns about the impact on local businesses and industries.<\/p>\n

The details<\/p>\n

The Texas Governmental Oversight Committee is studying a proposal to annex Lea, Roosevelt and Eddy counties in eastern New Mexico. The idea was initiated by state representatives in New Mexico, who believe the counties would be better aligned with the politics and policies of West Texas compared to the state government in Santa Fe. Supporters argue the move would provide more economic opportunities and less regulation, while opponents worry it would lead to the loss of revenue for businesses like dispensaries and casinos that are legal in New Mexico but not in Texas.<\/p>\n

The Texas Governmental Oversight Committee is exploring the proposal for the coming legislative session.The plan would require approval in Texas, New Mexico and through Congress, which Tepper said could take years.<\/p>\n

The players<\/p>\n

Dustin Burrows<\/p>\n

Texas House Speaker and Lubbock State Representative who directed his colleagues to study the proposal.<\/p>\n

Carl Tepper<\/p>\n

Lubbock State Representative who is on the Texas Governmental Oversight Committee studying the plan.<\/p>\n

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\n What they\u2019re saying<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn’t initiate this, state representatives from New Mexico initiated bills to remove themselves – not to become their own state – but to become part of West Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Carl Tepper, Lubbock State Representative<\/p>\n

\u201cThey’ve expressed frustration with Santa Fe, frustration with overregulation, they are trying to be oil producers and other businesses in New Mexico and it seems like Santa Fe is in their way every step of the way. I think we’d be a much better fit for those counties.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Carl Tepper, Lubbock State Representative<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems like the governor here wants to get rid of the oil fields and make it harder on oil field workers whereas Texas is opening it up more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Lea County resident<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it’s a bunch of crap. All Texas wants is our oil field money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Lea County resident<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of businesses like the dispensaries and stuff, well they’re going to lose all their revenue, you know. I’m not no liberal or nothing, I just don’t see how it’d benefit anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Lea County resident<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next<\/p>\n

The Texas Governmental Oversight Committee will continue studying the proposal, which would need approval in Texas, New Mexico and from Congress before potentially becoming a reality, a process that Tepper said could take years.<\/p>\n

The takeaway<\/p>\n

This potential border expansion highlights the ongoing political and economic tensions between Texas and New Mexico, as well as the desire of some eastern New Mexico residents to align more closely with the policies and industries of West Texas. However, the plan faces significant hurdles and opposition, particularly around the impact on local businesses and industries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Got story updates? Submit your updates here. \u203a As Texas lawmakers explore annexing eastern New Mexico counties, a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":248372,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-248371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248371"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248371\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}