Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on Sine Die of the 88th Legislature Regular Session



 

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today upon adjourning the 88th Legislature Regular Session Sine Die:

“Today, the Texas Senate adjourned the 88th Legislature Regular Session Sine Die. This was a session with significant victories for Texans but, unfortunately, far too many of the people’s conservative priorities, sponsored by the Senate, were killed in the Texas House.

“The Texas Senate passed all 30 of our priority bills by April 21, with plenty of time for passage through the Texas House. Ultimately, we were able to deliver significant victories for Texans by addressing many key issues facing our state. We sent these key bills to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk:
 

  • Sweeping reforms to strengthen our power grid
  • The largest pushback against woke policies in higher education in America
  • Support for Texas law enforcement at record levels
  • End draconian COVID-19 mandates
  • Ban child gender modification procedures in Texas
  • Harden our schools with the largest school safety funding package in Texas history
  • Stop the sexualization of Texas children at school
  • Expand mental health care access across rural Texas

 
“Unfortunately, 9 of the Texas Senate’s top 30 priority bills never received hearings in the House, and only 20 of the Senate’s top 30 priority bills became law. Thousands of other important bills were killed in the House, to the detriment of all Texans. The following list is a small sample of the good bills that were killed in the Texas House:
 

  • The largest property tax cut in Texas history, which died due to House leadership’s California-style plan that was opposed by realtors, business groups, and many in the media
  • Affirming parental rights in education with the largest school choice plan in America
  • Creating a state crime for illegal border crossings
  • Pushing back on the ESG scam
  • Banning Critical Race Theory in higher education
  • Creating a mandatory 10-year prison sentence for criminals committing gun crime
  • Prohibiting hostile foreign governments from owning land in Texas
  • Ending countywide polling places
  • Reforming our broken bail system and ending bail for violent crime
  • Allowing prayer in public schools
  • Allowing the Ten Commandments in our classrooms
  • Banning drag queen story hour in Texas public libraries
  • Expanding virtual education in Texas
  • Mandating that votes be counted in a timely fashion
  • Stopping telehealth from selling dangerous drugs online

 
“Ultimately, I am very proud of the work of the Texas Senate this legislative session. We fought for Texans at every turn, only to see many of our efforts killed in the Texas House.

“The Texas Senate did its job, it is time for the House to do the same.”

Today, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sent this letter to Gov. Abbott.