Texas wants a piece of New Mexico

A new set of legislative priorities released by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is drawing attention in New Mexico after one directive instructed Texas lawmakers to study the possibility of annexing parts of New Mexico into Texas.

According to a report by the Texas Tribune, Burrows directed a Texas House committee to examine “the implications of adding to Texas ‘one or more contiguous counties of New Mexico’ and the process to do so,” after proposals surfaced suggesting some New Mexico counties might be interested in seceding and joining Texas.

While the idea of changing state boundaries is highly unlikely in the near future, the directive signals that Texas lawmakers are at least willing to explore the concept as part of their planning for the 2027 legislative session.

“Following a legislative session defined by historic solutions, it is critical the Texas House remains engaged in thoughtful policymaking and oversight as our state continues to grow and advance,” Burrows said in a statement, according to the Texas Tribune. He added that the interim charges are meant to build on that progress while identifying fraud, waste and abuse and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

The annexation study was just one item on a broader list of priorities that included property tax relief, water infrastructure, data center development, foreign influence concerns and government oversight. Data center growth appeared multiple times on the priority list, with lawmakers directed to examine regulatory changes and water usage tied to data center expansion — an increasingly important issue as Texas faces ongoing water supply challenges.

Texas lawmakers were also instructed to review the property tax system, including school district tax rates and homestead exemptions, as state leaders continue looking for ways to reduce the property tax burden on homeowners.

The list also included directives related to energy markets, oil and gas production, and geopolitical instability abroad, particularly in the Middle East and global liquefied natural gas markets, according to the Texas Tribune.

But it was the New Mexico annexation idea that quickly generated political reaction across state lines.

Far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez responded on social media after the report was published, writing, “Texas invaded New Mexico before. We won then, and we won’t ever let Texas win. Besides, you don’t even have green chile…”

Her comment referenced the long historical rivalry between the two states, as well as the 19th-century territorial conflicts that shaped the modern Texas–New Mexico border.

The Texas Tribune noted that while boundary changes are unlikely to happen anytime soon, the proposal could appeal to pro-secession activists and political groups that have periodically pushed the idea of rural counties leaving New Mexico for Texas.

Any attempt to move state boundaries would face enormous legal and political hurdles, including approval from both state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.

Still, the fact that Texas leadership has now formally directed a committee to study the issue suggests the idea may continue to surface in political discussions leading up to the 2027 Texas legislative session.

For now, the directive remains a study request — not a formal proposal — but it has already sparked debate and reactions on both sides of the state line, highlighting ongoing political, economic and cultural differences between Texas and New Mexico.

Whether the idea goes anywhere remains to be seen, but the conversation itself has now officially entered the policy arena in Texas.