HE HAS STILL BEEN TAKEN TO JAIL, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS IN FLORIDA, TEXAS LAWMAKERS EXPLORING A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE WHETHER SOME COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO COULD ONE DAY JOIN THE LONE STAR STATE. ALIYAH CHAVEZ IS HERE WITH THE PLAN AND HOW OUR STATE RESPONDING. YEAH, DOUG, IT’S A PROPOSAL THAT SOUNDS FAR FETCHED, BUT IT’S ALREADY SPARKING STRONG REACTION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STATE LINE. TEXAS NOW WANTS TO STUDY WHETHER ITS BORDER COULD ONE DAY LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT. A ONE PARAGRAPH DIRECTIVE FROM TEXAS HOUSE SPEAKER DUSTIN BURROWS IS SETTING OFF A BIG CONVERSATION. IT CREATES A NEW HOUSE COMMITTEE TO STUDY WHETHER IT WOULD BE PRACTICAL FOR TEXAS TO TAKE IN ONE OR MORE COUNTIES FROM OUR STATE. THE REASON SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO DESERVES A REAL VOICE IN ITS OWN FUTURE, NOT ONE DICTATED BY SANTA FE. IT’S A CONSERVATIVE, ENERGY RICH REGION WITH A FIERCE INDEPENDENT STREAK, AND WEST TEXAS HAS SHOWN WHAT’S POSSIBLE WHEN YOU RESPECT OIL AND GAS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION IN THE NEW HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE, SPEAKER BURROUGHS WRITES. SO IF THE SPEAKER CALLED OVER HERE, MY FIRST ANSWER WOULD BE, LOOK, I HAVEN’T TALKED THE SAME THING I TOLD YOU. I HAVEN’T TALKED TO THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS HERE. AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT EACH OF THOSE GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE BEHIND TO DO THAT. NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE RANDALL PETTIGREW REPRESENTS LOVINGTON AND HOBBS IN LEA COUNTY, COUNTIES THAT PRODUCE BILLIONS FOR THE STATE. WE DON’T HAVE A REAL SEAT AT THE TABLE SAYING THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITY DON’T SEE THE BENEFITS OF THEIR OIL AND GAS CONTRIBUTIONS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE’RE IN NEW MEXICO. I WAS BORN IN NEW MEXICO, RAISED HERE, AND BECAME A STATE REP BECAUSE I LOVE THE STATE. I WANT TO FIX THE ISSUES WITHIN THIS STATE. BORO’S OFFICE SAYS THERE’S NO DEADLINE YET FOR THE COMMITTEE’S FINAL REPORT, BUT HEARINGS ARE EXPECTED WITH MORE GUIDANCE POSSIBLY COMING THIS FALL. NEW MEXICO HOUSE SPEAKER JAVIER MARTINEZ FIRING BACK FRIDAY. I SUGGEST THAT SPEAKER BURROUGHS GET OFFLINE. TOUCH SOME GRASS AND GET HIS OWN HOUSE IN ORDER. GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM OFFICE ALSO REJECTING THE IDEA. THIS IS NOT A SERIOUS PROPOSAL, BUT TEXAS CAN STUDY IT ALL THEY WANT. AND ALL OF THE FINDINGS FROM THIS REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE NEXT TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AND THAT DATE JANUARY 12TH, 2027. REPORTING. I’M ALIYAH CHAVEZ KOAT. ACTION 7 NEWS MONTHS AGO, REPRESENTATIVE RANDALL PETTIGREW INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE CREATED
Texas House Speaker directs committee to study annexing 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. In a statement, Burrows told KOAT: “Southeast New Mexico deserves a real voice in its own future, not one dictated by Santa Fe. It’s a conservative, energy-rich region with a fierce independent streak, and West Texas has shown what’s possible when you respect oil and gas, protect property rights, and trust local communities. This conversation is ultimately about culture, opportunity, and the right to choose a path that reflects the shared values of the Permian and Delaware basins. I look forward to this discussion in the new House select committee.”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 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. The idea appears to be in its early stages. Burrows’ office said there is no deadline yet for the committee’s final report, though hearings are expected and more direction could come this fall. Findings would be presented during the next Texas legislative session, which begins Jan. 12, 2027.New Mexico Rep. Randall Pettigrew, a Republican who represents Lovington and Hobbs in Lea County, said any such move would require support from local governments. He said he has not had those conversations.Pettigrew has also voiced frustration that oil- and gas-producing communities in southeast New Mexico do not have enough influence in Santa Fe, despite generating billions for the state. Still, he said he wants to address those concerns within New Mexico.“At the end of the day, we’re in New Mexico,” Pettigrew said. “I was born in New Mexico, raised here, have a business here, and became a state rep because I love this state. I want to fix the issues within this state.”In the 2026 legislative session, Pettigrew co-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. New Mexico leaders quickly dismissed the proposal. House Speaker Javier Martínez criticized Burrows in a Friday response. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office dismissed the idea. Statement from New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martinez: “I suggest that Speaker Burrows get offline, touch some grass, and get his own House in Order. I am certain Texans would much rather see their elected leaders come up with real solutions to the soaring healthcare, grocery, and energy prices brought on by the reckless actions of President Donald J. Trump and his Republican friends in Washington, D.C. We’re good.”Statement from Michael Coleman, Communications Director for Governor Lujan Grisham: “We have every intention of keeping the great state of New Mexico fully intact. This is not a serious proposal, but Texas can study it all they want. While they’re at it, they could also study how New Mexico has reduced methane emissions in the Permian Basin by half compared to their state. If Texas followed our lead, it would be a win-win for Texans and the planet.”
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.
In a statement, Burrows told KOAT: “Southeast New Mexico deserves a real voice in its own future, not one dictated by Santa Fe. It’s a conservative, energy-rich region with a fierce independent streak, and West Texas has shown what’s possible when you respect oil and gas, protect property rights, and trust local communities. This conversation is ultimately about culture, opportunity, and the right to choose a path that reflects the shared values of the Permian and Delaware basins. I look forward to this discussion in the new House select committee.”
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 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.
The idea appears to be in its early stages. Burrows’ office said there is no deadline yet for the committee’s final report, though hearings are expected and more direction could come this fall. Findings would be presented during the next Texas legislative session, which begins Jan. 12, 2027.
New Mexico Rep. Randall Pettigrew, a Republican who represents Lovington and Hobbs in Lea County, said any such move would require support from local governments. He said he has not had those conversations.
Pettigrew has also voiced frustration that oil- and gas-producing communities in southeast New Mexico do not have enough influence in Santa Fe, despite generating billions for the state. Still, he said he wants to address those concerns within New Mexico.
“At the end of the day, we’re in New Mexico,” Pettigrew said. “I was born in New Mexico, raised here, have a business here, and became a state rep because I love this state. I want to fix the issues within this state.”
In the 2026 legislative session, Pettigrew co-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.
New Mexico leaders quickly dismissed the proposal. House Speaker Javier Martínez criticized Burrows in a Friday response. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office dismissed the idea.
Statement from New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martinez:
“I suggest that Speaker Burrows get offline, touch some grass, and get his own House in Order. I am certain Texans would much rather see their elected leaders come up with real solutions to the soaring healthcare, grocery, and energy prices brought on by the reckless actions of President Donald J. Trump and his Republican friends in Washington, D.C. We’re good.”
Statement from Michael Coleman, Communications Director for Governor Lujan Grisham:
“We have every intention of keeping the great state of New Mexico fully intact. This is not a serious proposal, but Texas can study it all they want. While they’re at it, they could also study how New Mexico has reduced methane emissions in the Permian Basin by half compared to their state. If Texas followed our lead, it would be a win-win for Texans and the planet.”
