Rusk County GOP Urges Abbott to Limit Emergency Powers
A county Republican Party resolution asks the governor to call a special session to reform the Texas Disaster Act's emergency authority.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Emergency Response
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The Rusk County Republican Party adopted a resolution asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to reform his emergency powers. The resolution backs ending emergency orders after 30 days unless the Legislature ratifies them.
Why it matters
The resolution reflects continued pushback within the Texas GOP against the governor's broad authority under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, which the county party opposed following Abbott's 2020 business closures. It adds local Republican pressure to a separate legislative push by State Rep. Brian Harrison.
The proposed limit is 30 days on emergency orders unless the Legislature ratifies them, compared with the Texas Disaster Act's allowance for the governor to issue executive orders without limit. Whether Abbott will call the requested special session remains unanswered.
The players
Greg Abbott
The Republican governor of Texas, whose authority under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 is the subject of the resolution and legislative requests.
Brian Harrison
A Republican Texas state representative who authored HB 911 in 2022 and asked Abbott to call a special session to revoke the governor's emergency powers.
Rachel Hale
The chair of the Rusk County Republican Party, who shared the county party's adopted resolution on emergency powers.
The details
The Rusk County GOP chair, Rachel Hale, shared the resolution on Tuesday. It asks for a special session without delay to prohibit the governor from suspending or modifying any statute and to end emergency orders after 30 days unless the Legislature approves them.
Timeline
2020: Abbott used emergency powers to close businesses, which the county party opposed.
2022: State Rep. Brian Harrison authored HB 911.
Nov. 4: Harrison asked Abbott to call a special session to revoke the emergency powers.
Tuesday: Rusk County GOP chair Rachel Hale shared the adopted resolution.
Jan. 12, 2027: The 90th Legislative session is scheduled to begin.
Legal Context
The resolution targets the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, which lets the governor declare a state of disaster, suspend laws, and issue executive orders without limit. Its push for a 30-day cap and legislative ratification seeks to change that framework rather than repeal the Act outright.
Texans who want emergency-powers limits can contact their state representatives and county party leaders about the proposal. The resolution asks for changes that would only take effect through a special session or the regular 2027 legislative session.
The takeaway
Emergency powers granted during a crisis remain a live political question in Texas, and county parties are now pressing the state to narrow them. Watch whether the governor responds to the requests before the 2027 session.
What happens next
The 90th Texas Legislative session is scheduled to begin on Jan. 12, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Emergency Response reporting from across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTBB.
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