I am proud to chair the Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee (DOGE) in the Texas House, where our mission is to ensure that state government serves Texans effectively and responsibly - and I’m excited that our first bill to slash government regulations has already been signed into law.

This session, however, over 50 new bills have been filed—some by members who typically align with conservative values—that would increase paid holidays, expand leave policies, and add new entitlements for state employees.

These proposals, while well-intentioned, would significantly grow the amount of paid time off without any guarantee of improved performance or outcomes. The result? More taxpayer dollars spent on time not worked—something every Texan has a right to question.

One proposal even called for creating a new state holiday to commemorate the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As the author of Texas’s abortion ban, I am deeply thankful for the Supreme Court’s decision—but adding another day off for state employees isn’t how we honor that victory. State workers already receive 22 holidays, 12 vacation days, and 12 sick days each year. We should be focused on delivering better services, not more days off.

In DOGE, we’ve worked hard to eliminate unnecessary regulations, cut waste and abuse in Medicaid, streamline outdated reporting, and push back on the costly “work-from-home” trend in government. Texans expect accountability and results—not more paid leave for government staff.

I’m proud to support our state workforce, but I’m even more proud to defend the taxpayers who fund it. We must keep our focus on productivity, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility.