Patrick Announces Legislative Priorities for Special Session

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) has announced the legislative priorities for the first called special session of the 89th Legislature, unveiling a sweeping set of 16 bills aimed at addressing a wide array of issues, from natural disaster recovery to education reform and social policy.

Several of the proposed bills target urgent concerns in the wake of recent devastating floods across the state. These include SB 1, focused on natural disaster preparation and recovery, SB 2 on improving flood emergency communications, and SB 3, which seeks specific relief funding for the hard-hit Hill Country region.

In addition to disaster response, education reform takes center stage with SB 8, which proposes the elimination of the controversial STAAR test, a move that will likely spark strong debate among educators, parents, and policymakers.

Social issues also feature prominently in the priorities. SB 6 aims to protect “unborn children,” continuing Texas Republicans’ push for stricter abortion-related legislation. SB 7, titled “Protecting Women’s Spaces,” addresses national conversations around gender and public accommodations.

Criminal justice and public safety appear in SB 10, supporting human trafficking victims, and SB 14, which addresses police personnel records transparency.

On the economic front, SB 9 proposes cutting property taxes, while SB 5 aims to ban THC, a bill that will likely draw contention as Republicans appear to be divided on the issue.

The package also includes SB 12, a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying; SB 11, focused on the powers of the attorney general in elections; and SB 13, which offers incentives for state water projects.

The special session was scheduled to start on July 21^st, but the Legislature was adjourned to resume on Thursday July 24^th at 10:00 A.M.