Turning up the volume in Texas' long-running fight over Islamic law, U.S. Rep. Brian Harrison yesterday asked House Speaker Dustin Burrows to hold interim hearings in Austin to explore ways the state could ban Sharia law, casting the effort as a defense of Western civilization. Harrison folded the request into a broader conservative agenda that also targets property-tax changes and seeks added protections for Christian camps.
According to The Center Square, Harrison's formal letter urged the speaker to "combat Sharia law" by cutting off taxpayer funding he says is tied to it, expanding existing prohibitions on Sharia-style tribunals, and closing "loopholes such as the statutory exemption that protected EPIC City." He also pressed lawmakers to consider legislatively designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.
Abbott's actions and state probes
Gov. Greg Abbott moved in the same direction in November when he designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations and ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to open criminal investigations. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, Abbott said the steps were aimed at blocking perceived threats and preventing the groups from acquiring real property in Texas.
GOP ballot push and the March primary
The Republican Party of Texas has also gone to the ballot, adding a non-binding question to the March 3 GOP primary that asks voters whether the state should prohibit Sharia law, listed as Proposition 10, a move party leaders say helps turn grassroots priorities into a to-do list for lawmakers. According to The Center Square, such propositions on the party ballot are meant to guide the party platform and legislative agenda.
What the polls show
The broader political backdrop is not subtle. A national survey cited by Rasmussen Reports found that 77% of likely U.S. voters said they were concerned about the influence of radical Islam in America, including 41% who were "very concerned" and 18% who said they were not concerned. The poll of 1,145 likely voters was conducted Jan. 7–8 and Jan. 11 and carries a reported sampling margin of error of about ±3 percentage points.
Congressional moves and a Sharia caucus
Texas Republicans are also working the issue in Washington. Rep. Chip Roy has introduced H.R. 5722, the "Preserving a Sharia‑Free America Act," and the Congressional Record now reflects members' remarks recognizing a "Sharia Free America Caucus." The House record for Jan. 14, 2026 includes those statements and the caucus recognition in the Congressional Record.
Legal fallout and community reaction
The legal push has triggered immediate blowback. Two Texas chapters of CAIR have sued Gov. Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court, arguing the proclamation and related orders exceed state authority and violate constitutional rights, according to reporting by The Texas Tribune. Civil-rights advocates warn the escalating fight risks stoking anti-Muslim sentiment, while supporters counter that the moves are necessary to safeguard state law and public safety.
What to watch next
Whether Speaker Burrows will grant Harrison's request for interim charges now rests with House leadership, and any interim hearings would be held in Austin before the next regular session. The March 3 primary, with early voting beginning Feb. 17 according to the Texas Secretary of State, will give party leaders a clearer read on GOP voter sentiment as court fights over Abbott's orders play out in the background.
