Changes

Any action to impeach and remove a state officer originates first in the House General Investigating Committee, comprised of five members all chosen by the House Speaker.  The Committee has the power to hire outside counsel and investigators, to issue subpoenas and compel testimony, and can use pseudonyms to protect the identities of people and other entities involved during an investigation.

Any action to impeach and remove a state officer originates first in the House General Investigating Committee, comprised of five members all chosen by the House Speaker.  The Committee has the power to hire outside counsel and investigators, to issue subpoenas and compel testimony, and can use pseudonyms to protect the identities of people and other entities involved during an investigation.

Only twice previously has a Texas state officer been impeached: Governor [[Pa Ferguson]] in 1917 (the only statewide-elected officer to have been impeached), and Duval County District Court Judge O.P. Carillo in 1975.  Both Ferguson and Carillo were Democrats, both were impeached by a Democrat-controlled House, and both were subsequently removed from their respective offices by a Democrat-controlled Senate.  Paxton is the first Republican to face impeachment and removal.  At the time of Paxton's impeachment there were 149 members in the House (one vacancy due to [[Bryan Slaton]]'s expulsion in early May 2023) of which 85 were Republicans and 64 were Democrats; only 75 votes were needed to impeach, and 121 members voted to do so.  In the Senate there are 31 members (no vacancies), of which 19 are Republicans and 12 are Democrats; 21 votes are needed to remove Paxton from office.

Only twice previously has a Texas state officer been impeached: Governor [[Pa Ferguson]] in 1917 (the only statewide-elected officer to have been impeached), and Duval County District Court Judge O.P. Carillo in 1975.  Both Ferguson and Carillo were Democrats, both were impeached by a Democrat-controlled House, and both were subsequently removed from their respective offices by a Democrat-controlled Senate.  Paxton is the first Republican to face impeachment and removal.  At the time of Paxton's impeachment there were 149 members in the House (one vacancy due to Slaton's expulsion earlier in May 2023) of which 85 were Republicans and 64 were Democrats; only 75 votes were needed to impeach, and 121 members voted to do so.  In the Senate there are 31 members (no vacancies), of which 19 are Republicans and 12 are Democrats; 21 votes are needed to remove Paxton from office.

==House Action==

==House Action==