“The Texas Senate stands ready to begin our important work, immediately.”   AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for an immediate second special session: “I want to thank Gov. Abbott for calling the legislature back for a second special session. The work we will complete is… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced yesterday that he has established the Senate Select Committee on the Future of College Sports in Texas, to be chaired by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, to study the athletic and economic impact to Texas schools and communities by the University of Texas leaving the Big 12. “Collegiate… Read more »

AUSTIN – In addition to restructuring the board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), one of the provisions of Senate Bill 2, signed into law following the 87th Legislative Session, requires the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives to each appoint one member to the ERCOT Board Selection Committee…. Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 3, banning the teaching of Critical Race Theory in Texas Schools, by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola: “Texans roundly reject ‘woke’ philosophies that espouse that one race or sex is better than another and that someone, by virtue of their… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 4, prohibiting the availability of abortion-inducing drugs by mail, by Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville: “Since I was first elected to the Texas Senate, protecting life has been one of my top priorities, and I’m grateful that Gov. Greg… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today announcing that he has asked the University of Texas to host a panel to discuss the book Forget the Alamo, which purports to examine the motivation for the fight for Texas independence and the defenders of the Alamo: “After learning that the authors of… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 2, Fair Sports for Women and Girls, by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock: “When Senate Bill 29 was killed in the Texas House at the end of the 87th Regular Legislative Session, I asked Gov. Greg Abbott to include fair… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the unanimous passage of Senate Bills 8 and 12, by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston: “The two property tax relief bills the Texas Senate passed today will save Texas homeowners nearly $250 million in the 2022-2023 biennium, and over $500 million for the 2024-2025 biennium,… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 5, by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola: “Freedom of speech is a God-given right, and protecting that right is a top priority for Texans. We cannot allow social media platforms – the modern-day town square – to censor the views… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 6, the bail reform bill, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston: “At the end of the 87th Regular Legislative Session, Democrats walked out of the Texas House, killing bail reform and other vital legislation. More Texans’ lives continue to be… Read more »