Texas Democrats are wasting little time putting their election victories to work, unveiling an ambitious legislative agenda that includes expanding Medicaid, raising the minimum wage, cracking down on data centers, legalizing marijuana and overhauling public education funding.

The proposals came Monday as lawmakers began filing bills for the 2027 legislative session, setting the stage for what could be one of the most significant political shakeups in Texas government in decades.

Democrats will enter the 90th Texas Legislature with control of the House and the governor's office following last week's elections. Republicans, however, will maintain their majority in the Senate, creating a divided government that could make passing major legislation difficult.

The session begins January 12, with Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa preparing to take office.

By 5 p.m. Monday, lawmakers had already filed more than 1,260 bills. Thousands more could follow before the March 12 filing deadline.

While many of the proposals are unlikely to become law, the early filings provide a look at where both parties intend to focus their efforts.

Democrats Push Medicaid Expansion and Health Care Changes

One of the first priorities for Democratic lawmakers was expanding Medicaid coverage to more Texans.

Texas remains the most populous state that has refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a decision that has left many low-income working adults without access to affordable health insurance.

State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, introduced legislation directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to pursue federal approval for Medicaid expansion. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed a companion measure.

Expanding the program could bring Texas as much as $10 billion annually in federal funding while extending health insurance coverage to approximately one million additional residents.

Bucy acknowledged that the proposal would face opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate but expressed optimism about finding a workable agreement.

“We do think there’s going to be a lot of room to find compromise,” Bucy said. “The House and the Senate need to find compromise to get things done for the people of Texas.”

Other health care proposals include legislation from Houston Democrat Jolanda Jones requiring public schools to notify parents when a full-time nurse or equivalent is unavailable during regular school hours.

Democrats are also seeking major changes to Texas abortion laws.

State Rep. Donna Howard introduced legislation that would repeal the state's abortion ban and several related restrictions. Her proposal would also eliminate the 2023 law prohibiting gender-affirming medical care for minors.

Republicans, meanwhile, introduced measures addressing health insurance practices, including legislation targeting penalties associated with referrals from out-of-network physicians.

Data Centers Face Growing Bipartisan Opposition

The rapid expansion of data centers across Texas has emerged as one of the few issues attracting significant attention from both political parties.

Lawmakers introduced several proposals aimed at increasing oversight of the facilities, particularly their water consumption, electricity demands and eligibility for taxpayer-funded incentives.

The industry has faced growing criticism from communities concerned about strained water supplies and rising electricity costs.

Zaffirini introduced legislation requiring large data centers to report their water usage to the Texas Water Development Board.

Other proposals would eliminate state sales tax exemptions currently available to qualifying data centers.

Those exemptions have become increasingly expensive for the state, with foregone tax revenue exceeding $1 billion annually, according to reporting by The Texas Tribune.

Additional legislation would prevent data centers from receiving certain local tax incentives, including abatements and rebates negotiated with cities and counties.

Zaffirini's proposal would also prevent local governments from renewing existing incentive agreements.

The issue could become a major legislative battleground as Texas balances economic development with concerns about infrastructure, natural resources and taxpayer subsidies.

Immigration Enforcement and Surveillance Cameras Targeted

Democratic lawmakers also introduced legislation aimed at reversing several Republican-backed immigration enforcement policies.

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, filed a bill repealing a 2025 law requiring sheriffs operating county jails to participate in federal immigration enforcement partnerships.

The agreements, known as 287(g) partnerships, allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to authorize certain state and local officers to perform immigration enforcement functions.

Texas had 565 such partnerships as of November 4, according to ICE data.

A similar repeal proposal was filed by San Antonio Democrat José Menéndez.

Other immigration-related legislation would prohibit construction of federal border barriers on state park property and prevent ICE agents from wearing face coverings.

Martinez Fischer also proposed an audit of Operation Lone Star, Texas' multibillion-dollar border security initiative.

Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties are seeking restrictions on automated license plate readers, including cameras operated by Flock Safety.

Bucy introduced legislation that would ban the devices outright, while Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison proposed limiting their use by law enforcement.

Hinojosa previously expressed support for banning the AI-powered surveillance cameras during her gubernatorial campaign.

Democrats also introduced measures to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, while lawmakers from both parties filed proposals changing how Texas applies the death penalty.

Public Schools and Vouchers Take Center Stage

Education is shaping up to be another major point of contention.

Democrats introduced several bills to repeal Texas' approximately $1 billion school voucher program, which began operating this year.

The program, backed by outgoing Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, provides public funding to eligible families for private education and homeschooling expenses.

Repealing it could prove difficult with Republicans maintaining control of the Senate.

Democrats are also pushing to increase funding for traditional public schools.

Howard introduced legislation raising the state's basic allotment, the foundational amount of funding provided per student, from $6,215 to $7,500.

Her proposal would also tie future increases to inflation.

Another measure from Bucy would change the school funding formula to use student enrollment rather than average daily attendance.

Supporters argue that the existing attendance-based system penalizes districts financially when enrolled students miss school.

Bucy and Zaffirini also filed legislation requiring districts to offer free, full-day prekindergarten to all four-year-olds.

At the college level, Democrats proposed repealing restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities.

Other bills would provide tuition assistance to qualifying students, improve the transferability of college credits and temporarily eliminate sales taxes on textbooks.

Minimum Wage Increases and Transportation Projects Proposed

Texas' $7.25 hourly minimum wage could also become a major issue during the session.

Democratic state Reps. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos and Armando Walle introduced separate proposals increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Martinez Fischer went further, proposing a $17 hourly minimum.

Democrats also want to modernize voter registration.

Bucy introduced legislation directing state agencies to develop a system allowing Texans to register to vote online.

Texas is among a small number of states that still do not offer traditional online voter registration.

Transportation proposals include a potential high-speed rail connection linking Dallas, Waco, Austin and San Antonio.

Bucy's legislation would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to pursue a public-private development agreement for a passenger rail system capable of traveling at least 110 miles per hour.

Harrison, however, introduced legislation intended to restrict high-speed rail development.

Other Democratic proposals would dedicate additional funding to public transportation, bicycle lanes and sidewalks.

Lawmakers also introduced measures addressing rising insurance premiums, including a proposal requiring regulatory approval for insurance rate increases exceeding 5%.

Republicans Focus on Property Taxes and Government Restrictions

Despite their election losses, Republicans are moving forward with several familiar conservative priorities.

Among the most ambitious are proposals to eliminate property taxes in Texas.

Harrison and Republican state Rep. Brent Money introduced constitutional amendments seeking to abolish property taxes.

Other Republicans want to limit how quickly property valuations can increase.

State Rep. Jared Patterson proposed lowering the annual appraisal cap on qualifying homes from 10% to 3%.

Tax policy experts have cautioned that tighter appraisal caps do not necessarily translate into lower property tax bills and can create unintended consequences.

Democrats have also entered the property tax debate, including a proposal from state Rep. Salman Bhojani that would extend tax relief to renters.

Republicans additionally introduced legislation prohibiting local governments from using taxpayer money to hire lobbyists.

Other proposals would establish English as Texas' official language and impose term limits on elected officials.

Some term-limit measures have attracted bipartisan interest, although constitutional amendments would require voter approval.

Gambling Expansion Could Get Another Look

Texas lawmakers could also revisit the possibility of legalizing casino gambling and sports betting.

Republican state Rep. Charlie Geren introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide whether both forms of gambling should become legal.

A similar proposal passed the Texas House in 2023 but failed in the Senate.

The political landscape has since changed.

Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin, a Democrat, previously supported the 2023 gambling measure while serving in the Texas House.

However, the Republican-controlled Senate remains a significant obstacle.

Any proposed constitutional amendment must receive approval from two-thirds of both legislative chambers before reaching voters.

A Divided Legislature Faces Major Decisions

The opening round of bill filings highlights just how different the political environment in Austin could look when lawmakers return in January.

Democrats are pursuing an extensive agenda centered on health care, education, wages, immigration policy and consumer protections.

Republicans are emphasizing tax reductions, limits on government authority and other longstanding priorities.

There are potential opportunities for cooperation, particularly on data center oversight, property taxes and term limits.

But the split between a Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate means neither party can advance its entire agenda without negotiating.

With thousands of additional bills expected before the filing deadline, Monday's proposals represent only the beginning of what promises to be a contentious 2027 legislative session.

The biggest question is whether Texas' newly divided government can turn those competing priorities into laws or whether partisan disagreements will leave many of the proposals stalled before they ever reach the governor's desk.