AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a list on Wednesday of some of his priorities for this year’s legislative session, including school vouchers, banning THC and placing the Ten Commandments in schools.
The 89th Legislature’s regular session began on Jan. 14 and runs until June 2, and as lieutenant governor, Patrick is tasked with leading and presiding over the Texas Senate.
Because of that, Patrick–a Republican–has broad power over setting the Legislature’s agenda and deciding what gets passed.
In his announcement on Wednesday, Patrick released a list of his top 25 priority bills for this session, and he promised to have 40 priority bills this session, an increase from previous years where he had 30.
“These bills represent the will of the conservative majority of Texans, and many will pass with bipartisan support,” Patrick said in a statement.
The top two bills on the list are passing the state budget and creating a school voucher program, which has been a long-time priority for Republicans in the state and is likely to pass this session.
Other proposals focusing on schools include Senate Bill 10: “Placing the Ten Commandments in School,” Senate Bill 11: “Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School,” Senate Bill 12: “Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights in Public Education,” Senate Bill 13: “Guarding Against Inappropriate Books in Public Schools” and Senate Bill 24: “Educating Texas Students on the Horrors of Communism.”
SB 10 follows legislation that was passed in Louisiana, which requires all the state’s public schools to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom. That law is currently on hold as it makes its way through federal court.
Another proposed bill would create a Texas Department of Government Efficiency, modeled off a new federal organization by the same name created by President Donald Trump.
Another one of Patrick’s major priorities is Senate Bill 8: “Requiring Local Law Enforcement to Assist the Federal Government’s Deportation Efforts.”
This comes after the Trump administration has vowed to crackdown on immigration and deport thousands of undocumented immigrants across the country.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will partner with the White House on its immigration enforcement measures, including bolstering the state’s military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this week.
Cities across America have already seen an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, including in multiple Texas cities.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told CBS Austin this week that even if the state or federal government were to give local law enforcement the ability to enforce immigration operations, her department’s priority would remain keeping Austin safe.
Mayor Kirk Watson also said in a Texas Tribune forum on Wednesday that the City of Austin and its police officers are not taking part in immigration enforcement.
Here is the full list of Patrick’s priority bills, so far:
- Senate Bill 1 – Senate’s Budget for Texas
- Senate Bill 2 – Providing School Choice
- Senate Bill 3 – Banning THC in Texas
- Senate Bill 4 – Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $140,000 ($150,000 for seniors)
- Senate Bill 5 – Combatting Alzheimer’s – Establishing DPRIT (Dementia Prevention & Research Institute of Texas)
- Senate Bill 6 – Increasing Texas’ Electric Grid Reliability
- Senate Bill 7 – Increasing Investments in Texas’ Water Supply
- Senate Bill 8 – Requiring Local Law Enforcement to Assist the Federal Government’s Deportation Efforts
- Senate Bill 9 – Reforming Bail – Keeping Violent Criminals Off Our Streets
- Senate Bill 10 – Placing the Ten Commandments in School
- Senate Bill 11 – Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School
- Senate Bill 12 – Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights in Public Education
- Senate Bill 13 – Guarding Against Inappropriate Books in Public Schools
- Senate Bill 14 – Texas DOGE – Improving Government Efficiency
- Senate Bill 15 – Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing
- Senate Bill 16 – Stopping Non-Citizens from Voting
- Senate Bill 17 – Stopping Foreign Adversaries’ Land Grabs
- Senate Bill 18 – Stopping Drag Time Story Hour
- Senate Bill 19 – Stopping Taxpayer Dollars for Lobbyists
- Senate Bill 20 – Stopping AI Child Pornography
- Senate Bill 21 – Establishing the Texas Bitcoin Reserve
- Senate Bill 22 – Establishing Texas as America’s Film Capital
- Senate Bill 23 – Removing the Cap on the Rainy Day Fund to Secure Texas’ Long-term Financial Future
- Senate Bill 24 – Educating Texas Students on the Horrors of Communism
- Senate Bill 25 – Making Texas Healthy Again
