New Texas House rules passed on Thursday prevent members of the minority party from holding influential committee chair positions. This change breaks a long-standing tradition in the chamber — and could signal that a contentious legislative session lies ahead.

The proposed House rules would, however, require committee vice chairmanships to be given to minority party members, who are outnumbered 88-62.

Conservative activists in the GOP caucus called any power sharing with the minority party a betrayal of Republican voters.

The Texas House will decide Thursday on its rules of engagement for the rest of the legislative session – a brisk battle over sensitive issues such as whether Democrats should lead committees, which bills should be given priority,

While new House rules prevent Democrats from leading committees, it increases the power of the vice-chair position which will still give Democrats some say in legislation.

The Texas House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to ban Democrats from holding powerful committee chairmanships, answering years of mounting pressure from leadership and grassroots conservatives to chip away at the power of the minority party in the Capitol.

Texas Democrats talk about the House rules vote which bans Democratic chairs. Elizabeth Warren's recommendations for Elon Musk's DOGE include cutting Department of Defense spending and cracking down on Medicare fraud.