Texas Senate Forges Ahead, Passing 29 Priority Bills In Historic Conservative Session

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is charging ahead in what he says “can be one of the most conservative sessions in history.”

In a news release published on Monday, Patrick celebrated what he described as a “lightning-fast” start to the legislative session, noting that 29 of his top 40 priority bills have already cleared the Senate. Last week alone, senators passed 84 bills, bringing their total to 205, compared to just 10 passed by the Texas House so far.

“The Texas Senate is in overdrive, working hard to complete the people’s business,” Patrick said. “This can be one of the most conservative sessions in history. The Senate has done its work and will continue to do whatever it takes to deliver what the voters of Texas expect from us.”

Here’s a quick look at the 29 priority bills the Senate has already passed:

• 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 Dementia and Alzheimer’s by Establishing DPRIT (Dementia Prevention and 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 with Deportation Efforts
• Senate Bill 9 – Reforming Bail – Keeping Violent Criminals Off the 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 Housing Affordability
• Senate Bill 16 – Stopping Non-Citizens from Voting
• Senate Bill 17 – Stopping Foreign Adversary Land Grabs
• Senate Bill 18 – Stopping Drag Time Story Hour
• Senate Bill 19 – Stopping Taxpayer Dollars for Lobbyists
• Senate Bill 20 – Stopping AI-Generated Child Pornography
• Senate Bill 21 – Establishing the Texas Bitcoin Reserve
• Senate Bill 24 – Educating Texas Students on the Horrors of Communism
• Senate Bill 25 – Making Texas Healthy Again
• Senate Bill 26 – Increasing Teacher Pay
• Senate Bill 27 – Establishing a Teacher Bill of Rights
• Senate Bill 28 – Banning Lottery Couriers
• Senate Bill 29 – Texas: Open for Business
• Senate Bill 35 – Competing for Quality Roads
• Senate Bill 40 – Stopping Taxpayer-Funded Bail

Patrick’s priorities touch nearly every major issue facing the state, from border enforcement and religious rights in public schools to measures like banning drag events for children.

“As the Senate advances into April, we have already passed an amazing 29 of the voters’, the Senate’s, and my top 40 priority bills over to the House. My goal is to pass most, if not all, of the 40 Senate priority bills and other major bills by April 15, as I have done every session since I have been Lt. Governor. I do not let the clock kill important, must-pass bills,” Patrick added.

The pressure now shifts to the House, with the June 2 session deadline looming. Whether the lieutenant governor’s vision of a historic conservative session becomes a reality will hinge on how the House responds in the coming weeks.