Patrick Unveils 16-Bill Agenda for Texas Special Legislative Session

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) has released a sweeping legislative agenda for the First Called Special Session of the 89th Texas Legislature, outlining 16 Senate bills that span emergency preparedness, tax relief, education reform, redistricting, and a host of social policy issues.

At the top of the list is SB 1, filed by Sen. Charles Perry (R), which focuses on improving natural disaster preparation and recovery across Texas. The legislation comes as the state continues to face more frequent and intense weather events, including hurricanes and wildfires. Perry also filed SB 13, which aims to incentivize water infrastructure projects, a growing priority in a state facing severe droughts and water supply challenges.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R) is sponsoring several major bills, including SB 2, which would enhance flood emergency communications and warning systems. Bettencourt is also behind SB 9, a significant measure aimed at cutting property taxes, an ongoing concern for both homeowners and business owners amid rising property values across Texas.

Additionally, his SB 8 would eliminate the STAAR test, a high-stake standardized exam that has drawn criticism from parents, teachers, and education advocates for years. If passed, the bill could mark a major shift in how student performance is evaluated in Texas public schools.

SB 4, filed by Sen. Phil King (R), addresses redistricting, a politically charged issue that could reshape the state's legislative and congressional boundaries. Redistricting has major implications for the balance of power in future elections and is expected to draw close scrutiny from both parties.

The agenda also includes several socially conservative measures. Sen. Bryan Hughes (R) introduced SB 6, aimed at further restricting access to abortion under the banner of “protecting unborn children.” He also filed SB 11, which would expand the Attorney General’s powers over election-related matters, and SB 16, a broad package of judicial reforms.

Sen. Mayes Middleton (R) filed SB 7, labeled as “protecting women’s spaces,” likely referring to policies that would restrict transgender individuals’ access to certain facilities. Middleton also authored SB 12, which would ban taxpayer-funded lobbying, a measure that has long been a priority for conservative lawmakers.

Other bills in the package include SB 3, offering relief funding for the Hill Country region; SB 5, which would ban THC products; SB 10, supporting victims of human trafficking; and SB 15, from Sen. Royce West (D), targeting title theft and deed fraud, one of the few Democratic-led bills in the package.

Taken together, the legislative package reflects the priorities of the Republican leadership in Texas and sets the stage for a high-stakes special session that could reshape policy in critical areas ranging from disaster resilience to public education and social issues.