The Texas Senate adjourned sine die, ending a 140-day legislative session that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) called “the finest session any Texas Senate has ever had.” As the gavel fell, the legislation had delivered on a sweeping conservative agenda, passing all 40 of its priority bills and sending legislation tied to Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) five emergency items to his desk.
“This session, the Texas Senate achieved victory after victory for Texans,” Patrick said in a statement. “We passed many key bills that died in the Texas House during the 88th legislature.”
At the top of the session’s accomplishments was the launch of the largest school choice program in U.S. history. Senate Bill 2, paired with $1 billion in state funds, will create up to 100,000 education savings accounts for families seeking private school options. Senator Brandon Creighton, who authored the measure, called it “a long-term commitment to the future of public education.”
The Legislature also approved $8.5 billion in new funding for public schools, including across-the-board pay raises for teachers and school staff, the largest compensation increases in Texas history. These efforts helped secure bipartisan support after previous sessions saw school choice proposals stall.
Bail reform, long a priority for Patrick and Senate Republicans, finally cleared both chambers with a constitutional amendment (SJR 5) that would allow judges to deny bail to certain violent offenders. Senator Joan Huffman (R), the bill’s author, said the measure will go to voters in November.
Property tax relief was another signature win. Homeowners will see higher exemptions, $140,000 for most and $200,000 for seniors or disabled residents, resulting in hundreds of dollars in annual savings. Businesses will benefit from a higher exemption on personal property, cutting an estimated $2,500 from their tax bills.
Lawmakers also advanced Senate Bill 7, a $1 billion plan to modernize Texas’ water infrastructure and create new supply, a move Patrick said was crucial for “meeting the water needs of Texans through the end of the century.”
The Senate’s cultural priorities were also prominent. Lawmakers approved legislation to place the Ten Commandments in public classrooms (SB 10), protect public prayer in schools (SB 11), and ban “inappropriate books” (SB 13). Another bill, SB 22, aims to make Texas “the #1 faith-based and family film producer in America.”
"This was a team effort,” Patrick said. “We look forward to delivering for Texans during the 90th Legislative Session in 2027.”
With no major bills left on the table, a special session appears unlikely.
