AUSTIN – “Today, the Texas Senate approved and sent Senate Bill 1760 (SB 1760) by Senator Brandon Creighton to the Governor to become law. “SB 1760 is a cornerstone bill that requires all local taxing districts that wish to exceed the effective tax rate over the previous year to first have a vote of at… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Senate tentatively passed the most comprehensive approach to addressing border security in the state’s history. “Securing and protecting our southern border is the constitutionally mandated responsibility of the federal government,” said Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. “However, in the absence of federal action, the State of Texas is shouldering this public… Read more »

“I applaud today’s federal court ruling once again telling President Barack Obama his executive action attempt to grant legal status to as many as 5 million immigrants is illegal and unconstitutional. “In essence the appeals court Judges told the President to quit wasting time trying to circumvent the law. “Mr. President – please follow the… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1690, (HB 1690), which will move the Public Integrity Unit from the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to the Texas Ranger Division of the Department of Public Safety. “Moving the Public Integrity Unit to a politically neutral investigative agency begins the long overdue process of restoring… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 3994, (HB 3994), also known as the “Judicial Bypass” bill, to third reading. Final bill passage is expected tomorrow. “The bill’s purpose is to prohibit a physician from performing an abortion on an underage child without their parent’s consent, or legal court order authorizing the minor… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick congratulated the Texas Senate for the final passage of Committee Substitute for House Bill 910 (CSHB 910) with a vote of 20 – 11. “More than two months ago, the Texas Senate approved similar legislation enhancing Second Amendment freedoms on a vote of 20-10,” said Patrick. “With time… Read more »

Major priorities on tax cuts, Second Amendment and border security will now move forward. AUSTIN – For more than a month, I believed the Senate and the House would come together to resolve differences on tax relief, tax reform, border security, Second Amendment issues, transportation funding, education reform and other legislative issues. With the agreement… Read more »

AUSTIN – “Today, the Texas Senate passed Senator Donna Campbell’s Senate Bill 531, (SB 531), also known as the “Sharia law” bill, to third reading. “The bill’s purpose is to ensure that the constitutional rights of those who are part of the proceedings involving marriage, dissolution of marriage or a suit affecting the parent-child relationship,… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick congratulated Senator Craig Estes and the Senate members for the passage of Senate Bill 2065 (SB 2065). SB 2065 by Sen. Estes protects houses of worship, religious organizations and their employees and clergy or ministers, from being required to participate in a marriage or celebration of a marriage… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Senate Criminal Justice Chair John Whitmire announced the first ever 2015 Darrington Prison Seminary Graduates from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “The prison seminary is the first in history, in Texas,” said Patrick. “Working with Sen. Whitmire, we established this program to begin changing the lives of inmates… Read more »