Legislative Priorities [[link removed]][link removed]


With Only Six Weeks to go in Session the Clock is Ticking…


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I don't want good Senate or House bills to die. The House needs to help us help them before it's too late.


New Poll Shows Texas Voters Support Homestead Exemption Over Appraisal Caps


Homestead Exemption [[link removed]][link removed]


A new poll shows Texans strongly prefer the Senate tax cut plan to increase Homestead Exemptions over the House’s plan to cap appraisals. Texans know the Senate plan will provide real, significant property tax relief for all taxpayers. Seniors get a $100,000 exemption for a savings of $1,024 every year and those under 65 get a $70,000 exemption, saving $798 every year they own their home.


You can visit www.taptp.org [[link removed]] to read more.


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

26 of my 30 top legislative priorities [[link removed]] have passed in record time, 4 to pass next week!


It was a COLA Day for Retired Teachers who Packed the Senate Gallery


COLA [[link removed]]


I'm holding up my retired COLA can to celebrate the passing of SB 10. The Texas Senate passed the long awaited cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for retired teachers. The surplus allowed us to spend over 4 billion dollars to create this plan. Bill author Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and I worked tirelessly on this bill. Retired teachers over 75 also get a one-time check for $7,500.


Texas Senate Passes SB 2424 – State Authority to Enforce Our Border


Since the federal government has abdicated its constitutional responsibility to secure our border, Texas must step into the breach.


Senate Bill 2424, State Authority to Enforce Our Border, by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, creates a new state crime for entering Texas illegally. SB 2424 authorizes Texas law enforcement to arrest and prosecute all people who cross the border illegally anywhere in Texas. Punishment starts with up to 1 year in jail for a first-time offender, two years in state jail for a second-time offender and up to life in prison for convicted felons who illegally cross the border.


Here is my official statement [[link removed]] following the passage of SB 2424.


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This week I met Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez, of the U.S. Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector. The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol are doing the best they can under a President who does not support them or allow them to do the job they were trained to do — securing the border.


Texas Senate Passes SB 13 – Protecting Children from Obscene Books in School Libraries


Texas parents have an expectation that when their child goes to their school library, they are doing so for educational purposes. Senate Bill 13, Protecting Children from Obscene Books in School Libraries, by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, states that books in school libraries must not be harmful, indecent or profane. Here is my official statement [[link removed]] following the passage of SB 13. We must remove the pornographic and inappropriate books the Left is trying to push into our school libraries that indoctrinate and sexualize our children.


Texas Senate Passes SB 16 – Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Texas Universities


Liberal professors, determined to indoctrinate our students with their woke brand of revisionist history, have gone too far. This session, there was no question that we would ban the teaching of CRT in Texas universities. Senate Bill 16, Banning CRT in Texas Universities, by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler, does just that.


Here is my official statement [[link removed]] following the passage of SB 16.


Texas Senate Passes SB 19 – Creating the Texas University Fund


As Texas’ economy and population continue to grow rapidly, so do our workforce needs. Senate Bill 19, Creating the Texas University Fund, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, creates the Texas University Fund (TUF). The TUF will provide funding for research expenditures for non-PUF-eligible research universities so we can continue powering the Texas and American economy forward for decades to come.


Here is my official statement [[link removed]] on the bipartisan passage of SB 19.


Texas Senate Unanimously Passes SB 26 – Expanding Mental Health Care Beds Across Texas – Focus on Rural Counties


As I traveled the state on my bus tour, I noticed the glaring need for mental health care beds across the state, especially in our rural areas. I knew we needed to do something to fix this growing crisis. Senate Bill 26, Expanding Mental Health Care Beds Across Texas – Focus on Rural Counties, by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, creates an “Innovation Grant” program to direct state funding to improve mental health bed capacity and services across Texas.


Here is my official statement [[link removed]] following the unanimous passage of SB 26.


Biden’s Border Crisis with Laura Ingraham


Biden Caters to Dreamers [[link removed]][link removed]


Thousands of migrants continue to pour into our country every single day and now, Biden is incentivising them, promising free healthcare. This is absolutely absurd. Our communities are suffering. Something has to be done – and Texas is stepping in. I joined Laura Ingraham on her program late Thursday night to talk about this and more. Click here to watch [[link removed]].


Biden’s Border Crisis (Continued) with Maria Bartiromo


Souther Border Crisis [[link removed]][link removed]


We are facing an unprecedented surge of illegal immigrants crossing our border and the Biden administration continues to do what they do best: NOTHING.


I was on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo to talk about this and more. Click here to watch [[link removed]].


Legendary Country Music Singer Tanya Tucker Visits the Capitol


Tanya Tucker [[link removed]]


On Thursday, Tanya Tucker was honored on the Senate floor for her incredible contribution to country music in Texas and the world. I gave her one of my challenge coins and later that day she sang the chorus of Delta Dawn with some of my staff.


Thank you all for your support and everything you do to keep Texas red. May God bless you and your family, and may He continue to bless the greatest state of all—Texas.


Sincerely,


Dan Patrick [[link removed]]


Dan Patrick

Lieutenant Governor of Texas


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Matthew 20:26 (NLT)


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