Author Archive

Tomorrow we begin voting in the 2026 Republican Primary.

Since Monday is a holiday, Early Voting begins Tuesday, February 17th and runs through Friday, February 27th. Remember that most counties will also have weekend voting on Saturday and Sunday.  

You can find your closest polling location and hours by clicking on your county below:

Brown
Callahan
Johnson
Palo Pinto
Parker
Shackelford
Stephens
Tarrant

 
Primary elections are where the future of our party is shaped. This is the moment when Republican voters choose the leaders who will carry our principles forward and represent our values on the ballot in November. The strength of our party — and the direction of our state and nation — begins here.

The Republican Primary is where we ensure our nominees reflect the conservative principles we believe in. If we want strong leadership rooted in those values, participation is essential.

And remember — vote all the way down the ballot.

Statewide races matter. Legislative races matter. Judicial, county, and precinct races matter. These positions shape the laws that govern us, how those laws are interpreted, and how our communities operate day to day. Every race plays a role in building the future we want to see.

Low turnout in primaries can dramatically impact outcomes. Your vote truly carries weight in this election.

Please make your plan today:
• Review your ballot before heading to the polls
• Decide whether you will vote early or on Election Day
• Encourage friends and family to participate

Strong turnout in the Republican Primary ensures our party remains focused, unified, and prepared for victory in November.

On Your Ballot:  Republican Party of Texas Ballot Propositions

When you go to the polls to vote, there will be 10 propositions on the Republican primary ballot. These are non-binding and are not implementing law or amending the Constitution. Rather, these ballot propositions help gauge the sentiment and priorities of GOP primary voters and help determine legislative priorities for the 2027 session.

Note: These propositions are submitted by the State Republican Executive Committee. 

Proposition 1: Texas property taxes should be assessed at the purchase price and phased out entirely over the next six years through spending reductions.

Proposition 2: Texas should require any local government budget that raises property taxes to be approved by voters at a November general election.

Proposition 3: Texas should prohibit denial of healthcare or any medical service based solely on the patient’s vaccination status.

Proposition 4: Texas should require its public schools to teach that life begins at fertilization.

Proposition 5: Texas should ban gender, sexuality, and reproductive clinics and services in K-12 schools. 

Proposition 6: Texas should enact term limits on all elected officials.

Proposition 7: Texas should ban the large-scale export or sale of groundwater and surface water to any single private or public entity.

Proposition 8: The Texas Legislature should reduce the burden of illegal immigration on taxpayers by ending public services for illegal aliens.

Proposition 9: The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature should stop awarding leadership positions, including committee and subcommittee chairmanships and vice chairmanships, to Democrats.

Proposition 10:  Texas should prohibit Sharia Law. 

Please exercise your right – and fulfill your duty – to vote.  Thank you for staying engaged and committed to the future of our community.

I hope you’re enjoying the warmer weather we’ve had after the winter storm. Here’s an update on recent issues and events.

Ten Commandments Legal Update 

On January 20th, a hearing was held at the 5th Circuit Federal Appeals Court in response to lawsuits filed both in Texas and Louisiana challenging the legality of Ten Commandments posters being displayed in schools. Texas Values filed an amicus brief on both my and State Representative Candy Noble’s behalf as authors of the law. The general consensus is that the hearing went well.  All 17 justices participated (en banc). It will be appealed to the United States Supreme Court regardless of who prevails at the 5th Circuit.  

Texas Education Freedom Accounts

One of our accomplishments during the recent legislative session was to create Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), with $1 billion in funding. This account allows families to use state funds for private school tuition, tutoring, and homeschooling expenses beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Applications for these funds are now being accepted. Families can receive about $10,000 for private school tuition per student per year, up to $30,000 per student per year for students with disabilities, and $2,000 per student per year for homeschool students.  Please click here for a link to resources created by the Comptroller’s office regarding this program. The deadline to apply for the 2026-2027 school year is MARCH 17th.

Texas Legislature Interim Charges

Even though the legislature won’t be back in session until January, our work continues out of session. Interim charges are specific topics, studies, and investigations assigned to legislative committees by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House to be researched during the “interim period,” the 18 months between regular legislative sessions. These directives help identify priority issues, monitor state agencies, and shape the agenda for the next session.

Just last week, Lt. Governor Patrick announced his first round of interim charges for the 2027 legislative session. They include preventing Sharia law in Texas, further property  tax cuts, securing infrastructure and supply chain integrity, protecting taxpayer funds/preventing fraud and abuse, and promoting America and Texas first in our schools. Our office, along with the rest of the Senate, will provide our recommendations for additional interim charges to the lieutenant governor by the end of the month. The full list of charges will then be released in March.

Texas Judicial Council and Texas Indigent Defense Commission Appointments

I am honored to be appointed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to serve on the Texas Judicial Council and the governing board of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.  The Texas Judicial Council is charged with studying methods to simplify judicial procedures, expedite court business and improve the overall administration of justice. The Council evaluates the work of Texas courts and submits recommendations to the Legislature, the Governor and the Supreme Court. As a Council member, I will receive and consider input from judges, public officials, members of the bar and citizens across the state.

The Texas Indigent Defense Commission safeguards liberty by ensuring that Texas and its 254 counties provide the right to counsel guaranteed by the United States and Texas Constitutions. The Commission’s work focuses on three primary areas: funding, oversight and continuous improvement of indigent defense services statewide.

I am grateful for the trust placed in me through these appointments and look forward to serving Texas in these new roles while working to strengthen the administration of justice across our state.

National March for Life

On January 23rd, the National March for Life was held in Washington, DC. The March for Life is the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world, and is a celebration of each and every life.

The next day, the Texas Rally for Life, hosted annually by the Texas Alliance for Life, was held in Austin where Governor Abbott spoke in support of the sanctity of life. “We are united by the truth that our Creator endowed us with the right to life itself,” said Governor Abbott. “There is no freedom more precious than life itself. All of you have been life savers, and thousands of newborn babies are the result of your heroic efforts. Thank you for being a part of the movement that has made Texas the beacon for life in the United States of America.”

Since the Texas Heartbeat Law went into effect in 2023, over 200,000 babies have been saved from abortion in our state. I’m proud that Texas stands firm for the rights of the unborn.

Wedding Anniversary

On January 26th, Terry and I celebrated our 47th anniversary. There is no “formula” for a great marriage. And there have been some difficult times—not in our marriage but just in life. However, if I had to pick one thing that got us through everything, it’s that we have prayed together every day. God just seems to work everything out when we pray.

As winter weather approaches the area later today, I want to update you with resources to ensure you can directly access the latest information. 

Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) – https://tdem.texas.gov/
This site serves as the “hub” for the state’s emergency management program, and includes links to warming centers, general preparedness information and other helpful information.

To find a situation overview given to elected officials this morning, along with forecast maps and radars, CLICK HERE.

To find the latest forecast, visit the National Weather Service Fort Worth –
https://www.weather.gov/fwd/
 
To monitor road conditions – drivetexas.org

To check the latest grid conditions – https://www.ercot.com/

To monitor any power outages and find power company information –
puc.texas.gov/storm/#txwx#txlege

From the above link, if you need to report an outage, click on the “Texas Utility Contacts” in the yellow box as shown in the picture below. When you call, if possible, you need to have your ESI ID number available. You can find that number on your most recent electric bill.

Please stay warm, stay safe and check on your neighbors. 

It’s been a busy month since Thanksgiving, and I’d like to share a few highlights. First, however, Terry and I would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. May this be a special time reflecting on the greatest gift ever given, when Christ came into this world to provide us eternal life.

Fort Worth Hosts the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) National Conference
The first week after Thanksgiving, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) national conference was held in Fort Worth. We had a record number of attendees – over 1,000! Terry was able to join me for much of the conference, and many of my Senate and House colleagues attended.

Over the course of three days, state lawmakers from almost all 50 states met to share best practices as well as consider state-based solutions to issues affecting our nation and our citizens. Speakers included Governor Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, Senator Ted Cruz, Secretary of Agriculture (and Fort Worth resident) Brooke Rollins, former Governor Rick Perry and more.

What exactly is ALEC, you might ask? Well, it’s the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the country. The group is dedicated to principles of limited government, free markets and federalism. Back in 2015, I was honored to have served as the national chairman for this great group of like-minded individuals, and I remain active as a member of the national board. Much of the conservative legislation enacted in Texas over the past several decades began with discussions and brainstorming at ALEC conferences. 

At ALEC, we had the opportunity to welcome Fort Worth resident Brooke Rollins, our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, back to her hometown. 


The ALEC National Board of Directors toured the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Fort Worth,  where thousands of North Texans help manufacture the F-35. Terry joined me for the tour of this absolutely massive production facility. We also got to say hello to our son-in-law Rick who works at Lockheed. 

National Interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show

While attending ALEC, I took some time to visit with national radio host Hugh Hewitt where I discussed the status of our redistricting efforts and the “Big Beautiful Map.” At the time of the interview, the U.S. Supreme Court had not yet ruled in favor of Texas’ new maps, which were drawn to create five new GOP congressional seats. As I stated in the interview, we want new seats because we know if the left controls Congress during Trump’s last two years we’ll have nothing but impeachments and bogus inquiries; the work of the people will grind to a halt. On December 4th, the Supreme Court did rule favorably, as common sense and the rule of law prevailed. This provides us the opportunity to increase our GOP majority in Congress, but now we need to make sure we win those seats in November of 2026. To listen to the interview, click on the photo above.

New Laws Going into Effect
During the two special sessions, we enacted new laws that are beginning to take effect this month and into January. Here are just a few examples: 

• Private citizens can sue anyone who manufactures or distributes abortion drugs to or from Texas. Effective date of December 4th.
• The STAAR test will be replaced by three shorter tests throughout the year. Students will take the new assessments beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
• More penalties will be applied to lawmakers who break quorum to delay legislation, including harsher fines, new limits on funds they raise as well as loss of seniority and committee posts. Effective date of December 4th.
• Senate Bill 8 requires transgender individuals to use restrooms and changing facilities for their biological gender. This will keep men out of women’s restrooms and other areas and is known as the “Women’s Privacy Act.” Effective date of December 4th.
• Senate Bill 11 will protect human trafficking victims from prosecution for crimes they are forced to commit by their captors. Effective date of December 4th.

Our Pro-Family Work is Honored by WallBuilders
At the WallBuilders Pro Family Conference, several of us were honored for our work in restoring the Ten Commandments back in the Texas classrooms.    

It was a privilege to be recognized along with Rep. Candy Noble and Senator Jim Dotson of Arkansas, for working to restore the Ten Commandments back in the classroom.

“Faith and Family Champion” Award from Texas Values

On December 6th I had the honor of speaking at a Texas Values meeting held at the home of Vince & Mona Puente in Arlington. The organization president, Jonathan Saenz, presented me with the “Faith & Family Champion Award” in recognition for my voting record, which aligns with the conservative and faith-based ideals of Texas Values Action. 

Thank you again for taking time to read these updates. 

Merry Christmas!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1

Happy Thanksgiving from all of the King family to yours. 

Thanksgiving for me is a lot about stepping back and reflecting with a heart of gratitude. Many of you will recall the great hymn “Count Your Blessings,” which in part says: “When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

This week, I can’t help but be grateful for this great nation we call home.

Everyone in the world wants to live in the United States. That’s why people have come here by the droves across the decades, with a dream to build a new life. America is a place where millions have yearned to come, and we are so blessed to live here. I can honestly say with all my heart there’s nowhere I’d rather live than in the United States, Texas, and frankly, here in SD 10.

Now, as a father and grandfather, I have a responsibility to pass on that thankfulness to my family, and instill that recognition of all that we have. It’s important we talk to our children and our grandchildren about the great blessings God has given us.

I pray this week will be a wonderful time with those you love.  

Early Voting Begins Monday, October 20th for 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. You can find voting information at the end of this message. 

This past session, the legislature passed 17 joint resolutions proposing these amendments. Funding for these measures has already been allocated in the state budget. 

The Secretary of State has determined the order of the amendments on the ballot by random draw and numbered them by proposition. There are key amendments which propose to provide further property tax relief, improve statewide water availability and ensure that only United States citizens can vote in Texas elections.  

Key Amendments:

Tax Relief 

Prop 2 – Would prohibit a capital gains tax from being imposed on an individual’s estate or trust. 

Prop 8 – Would prohibit the legislature from imposing a “death tax.” 

Prop 9 – Would cut taxes for small businesses by raising the exemption for business personal property from $2,500 to $125,000. 

Prop 13 – Would increase the homestead exemption for all Texans, other than seniors and disabled persons, from $100,000 to $140,000.

Prop 11 – Would increase the school property tax exemption for seniors and disabled persons by an additional $60,000, raising their total exemption to $200,000. 

Bail Reform

Prop 3 – Would require a judge to deny bail to the most violent offenders when the state provides that the defendant is a threat to public safety or a flight risk. Such violent offenders include murderers, rapists and human traffickers.

Critical Infrastructure 

Prop 4 – Would establish a dedicated funding source to provide $1 billion annually for 20 years to the Texas Water Fund, supporting long-term water resource development across the state.

Voter Integrity 

Prop 16 – Would clarify that a person must be a United States citizen to vote in a Texas election. The Texas Constitution does not currently explicitly limit Texas non-citizen voting in state or local elections. This will prevent municipalities from passing policies to allow non-citizens to vote, like cities have done in California, Maryland and New York. 

Other Proposed Amendments: 

Prop 1 – Would establish two new funds to support the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) System. The funds established by Prop 1 would provide additional funding to the TSTC System for capital projects and equipment purchases that support vocational and technical education programs.

Prop 5 – Would exempt animal feed from property taxation, relieving the tax burden on livestock feed retailers to benefit the agriculture industry.

Prop 6 – Would prohibit the legislature from imposing a tax on registered securities market operators or their transactions. Prop 6 would support the newly established and growing Texas Stock Exchange by preventing the future imposition of a financial transaction tax that would deter investment in the financial services sector and negatively affect the growing Texas economy. It would also provide certainty for investors, including retirees, about their ability to trade securities freely in Texas. 

Prop 7 – Would authorize the legislature to grant a property tax exemption for unremarried spouses of veterans who died in connection with their service.

Prop 10 – Would authorize future legislatures to provide a temporary exemption from property taxes on a residence homestead that is destroyed by fire.

Prop 12 – Would make changes to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) to strengthen judicial oversight.

Prop 14 – Would establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to advance research, treatment and prevention for a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This is modeled on the successful Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Prop 15 – Would affirm a parent’s inherent right to the care, custody and control of their children, including the right to make decisions concerning the child’s upbringing. Currently, parental rights in Texas are protected primarily through case law, which can be subject to change based on judicial interpretations. Prop 16 would codify these rights directly in the state constitution, providing stronger and more consistent protection against potential governmental overreach. 

Prop 17 – Would authorize future legislatures to provide an exemption from certain property taxation for properties in Texas counties that border Mexico. The state and federal governments have built walls and roads and installed surveillance systems on individuals’ private property to prevent illegal border crossings. Prop 17 ensures that any increase in a property’s appraised value due to the border security infrastructure will not result in higher property taxes.

Links For Early Voting Locations and Information:

Brown County
 
Callahan County
 
Johnson County
 
Palo Pinto County
 
Parker County
 
Shackelford County
 
Stephens County
 
Tarrant County
 

With Texas booming, our roads and highways must keep up. In fact, in our most recent newsletter, I provided an update on funding we just passed for future construction projects across our district. If you missed that information, you can read it HERE.
 
Meanwhile, construction on previously funded projects is underway. Like you, I get stuck in traffic caused by these projects. I’ve had numerous and ongoing discussions with TXDOT, expressing your concerns and mine about the impact of this congestion. They have committed to provide more information so citizens can be aware of upcoming closures and detours. 
 
For your planning purposes, I want to pass on some information from TXDOT that I have received. Please note that you can sign up for emails directly from TXDOT to receive construction updates under the “News” tab, at the link they provide in the message below. Also, at the bottom of this email, you will find two maps that TXDOT has provided.
 
FROM TXDOT:

Please be advised that east and westbound Interstate 20, from the I-20/I-30 split to Markum Ranch Road in Western Tarrant County, will be closed from 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 through 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26, to accommodate bridge construction activities, weather permitting. This will be a total closure.
 
There will also be overnight closures on I-30 on Friday evening, 9/26 and then Monday-Tuesday 9/26 and 9/29-9/30. These closures will be westbound only.
 
You can find this information, as well as detour maps, at this link: https://www.txdot.gov/keep20-30moving.html. You can also sign up to receive updates regarding upcoming construction.  

Finally, when constituents call our offices with questions about specific projects, we refer them to the following TXDOT regional offices. I have provided that information below:   
 
Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, & Palo Pinto County:
https://www.txdot.gov/about/districts/fort-worth-district.html
817-370-6744
 
Brown & Stephens County:
https://www.txdot.gov/about/districts/brownwood-district.html
325-646-2591
 
Callahan & Shackelford County:
https://www.txdot.gov/about/districts/abilene-district.html
325-676-6800

Source: https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/project-sites/keep20-30moving/docs/i-20-bentley-bridge-deck-detour-map-092525.pdf

Source: https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/project-sites/keep20-30moving/docs/wb-i-30-at-580-sept29-to-oct3.pdf

Our second legislative special session ended earlier this month on September 3rd, and I’m happy to report that we accomplished some very important work. Today I provide an overview of some key Senate bills that were passed and sent to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. Next week I will continue providing more details on legislation passed in the regular session, as well as House bills that were passed during the second special session.

SB 1, CAMP SAFETY: Legislation which would require camps to have natural disaster emergency plans, prohibits campgrounds from operating in floodplains, streamlines emergency communications to family members, enacts new health and safety standards for camp personnel, mandates that camp operators maintain safety equipment and conduct regular safety orientations, and requires compliance with the National Fire Protection Association’s standards.

SB 3, FLOOD EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND WARNING: Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and improve early warning systems and other preparedness and response infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

SB 5, RELIEF FUNDING FOR HILL COUNTRY FLOODS: Legislation to provide relief funding for response to and recovery from the storms which began in early July 2025, including local match funding for jurisdictions eligible for FEMA public assistance.

SB 8, PROTECT WOMEN’S SPACES: Legislation protecting women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces.

SB 11, PROTECT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill 1278 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that protects victims of human trafficking from criminal liability for non-violent acts closely tied to their own victimization.

SB 12, ATTORNEY GENERAL ELECTION POWERS: Legislation proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the Attorney General to prosecute state election crimes.

SB 14, WATER PROJECT INCENTIVES: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill 1253 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that authorizes political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures.

SB 16, TITLE THEFT & DEED FRAUD: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill 648 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that provides strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud.

SB 54: PREVENTING SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION: Removes the provision in the Election Code that allowed a voter that has changed addresses within the same county to register to vote and vote in the same day.

SD 10 Transportation Projects Funded in Latest State Budget

As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I’m able to have an in-depth look at how Texas is working to relieve the traffic congestion too many of us face on a daily basis. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has dedicated roughly $35.5 billion of its 2026-27 budget to the development, delivery and maintenance of the state’s vast network of public roads.

Senate District 10 stands to benefit greatly from these funds, as rapid population growth and expanding commercial activity in the region place increasing pressure on local and regional roadways. In addition to the projects that are currently underway in SD 10, I am pleased to share that TXDOT has approved funding for the following projects:

•     $28 million authorized to widen U.S. 84 in Brown County
•     $218 million authorized to widen Interstate 30 in Arlington
•     $84 million authorized to improve Interstate 35 West in Johnson County
•     $116.5 million authorized to widen U.S. 281 in Palo Pinto County
•    $77 million authorized to create new frontage roads in Weatherford from Santa Fe Drive to Bankhead Highway
•     $25 million authorized for freeway ramps in Arlington
•     $200 million authorized to widen Interstate 20 in Arlington

For more information on these projects, and to view all TxDOT projects, please visit https://apps3.txdot.gov/apps-cq/project_tracker/ and select “State Senate District Number” from the first dropdown box, then type “10” into the search bar.

Legislation Forces Austin to Shut Down Taxpayer-funded Abortion Travel Fund

On September 1st, Senate Bill 33, which prohibits the use of public taxpayer dollars to help promote abortion, went into effect. Because of our work in passing this new law, the city of Austin was forced to end its “out-of-state abortion fund,” which was used to reimburse Texas women who traveled to other states to receive abortions for missed wages, travel expenses and any planning expenses they incurred. This fund in effect circumvented Texas’ strong pro-life laws, creating an end-run around public policy using taxpayer dollars. It’s encouraging to see the immediate impact that meaningful legislation has for our state.

Legislation Enables Shutdown of Massage Parlors Engaged in Human Trafficking

In the 2023 legislative session, I sponsored HB 3579. This bill created emergency suspension powers for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) if a massage business is being investigated by law enforcement for human trafficking, sexual misconduct or related offenses. Since that legislation has been signed into law, I have been encouraged to see some of the direct results of our intended purpose behind that bill.

Since the passage of HB 2579, TDLR has exercised their emergency powers to shut down 75 massage locations around the state, including six locations in Senate District 10. In May, a massage parlor in Cleburne was shut down, along with seven others outside the district, for the same reason. Sadly, new reports come in every day about suspected human trafficking and illicit activities at massage parlors. We must all remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to TDLR when we see it. I have one constituent in Burleson whose consistent reporting has led to action by TDLR in that community. If you suspect human trafficking or illegal activity at a massage parlor or other TDLR licensed business, please visit https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/complaints/ to file a complaint. You may also report suspected human trafficking to the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888.

Charlie Kirk: A Devastating Loss for Our Nation

Terry and I are absolutely heartbroken over the tragic and senseless brutal murder of Charlie Kirk. In a world of darkness, a bright, irreplaceable light has been taken from us. His impact on America is unprecedented, as we have seen in the outpouring of emotions in the week following his passing. Charlie possessed a rare ability to change hearts and minds of Americans, especially those on college campuses, with open conversation and civil discourse. I have learned of his impact even in the lives of some of my grandchildren, who I had no idea were watching his podcasts. Charlie is now in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, leaving behind a wife and two young children. God Bless all those who loved Charlie Kirk.

Congressional Redistricting Map Signed in to Law

In July I was named by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to Chair the Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting, and I was honored to lead the redistricting effort in the Texas Senate. This new map gives Republicans the opportunity to potentially elect five more GOP Members of Congress from Texas. On Friday, Governor Abbott signed the new map into law.  

This was an often contentious process. In protest of redistricting, at the beginning of the month Texas House Democrats fled the state in a cowardly attempt to avoid their duty of serving their constituents and our state. Due to this walkout, we did not have a quorum present to vote on important matters which affect our communities and our citizens. 

The first special session ended on Friday, August 15th, with Governor Abbott immediately calling for a second special session, which began that same day. That week, some Democrats began returning to Austin, allowing a quorum in the Texas House. The new congressional map, HB 4, was passed out of the Texas House, followed by approval by the Texas Senate last Saturday morning. 

I stated repeatedly throughout the debate last week that the new congressional map meets my goals: 

–    being legal and complying with all applicable law, 
–    improving partisan performance for Republicans, and
–    enhancing the compactness of the districts.  

Though this map is already being challenged in court, I feel confident we will prevail. If you would like to access the new map, you can click HERE.

Update on SB 10/Display of Ten Commandments in our Schools

There have been some important developments after SB 10 was signed into law. On August 20th, a liberal federal judge blocked partial implementation of SB 10. Though this injunction applies only to 11 school districts, we are not surprised, as we expected this law to be challenged by the ACLU and other liberal groups. I have the highest level of confidence that this injunction will be overturned on appeal. 

(On a personal note, I have read where some called my legislation placing the Ten Commandments in classrooms a “political stunt.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Few documents have had greater impact on the development of our law, culture and ethics in America.  For 200 years, the Ten Commandments was prominent in our schools. It wasn’t “wrong” until a liberal court in 1980 prohibited the Ten Commandments. Yet, the Ten Commandments is part of our history and tradition. And yes, it will impact our kids. Just like saying the pledge each day to our flag, being reminded in every class, every day, K-12, that it’s wrong to steal, that we are to be faithful, that it’s wrong to kill, etc., will teach and impart American character to our children.)

How You Can Help Ensure the Ten Commandments Are in Public Classrooms

It is so encouraging to hear about countless volunteers who are both funding this effort and helping to get these posters displayed in classrooms all across Texas. Also, some members of my staff just completed distribution of posters to schools in several counties in the western part of our senate district. I’m also pleased to share with you that through our campaign fund, we were able to make a donation to cover the cost of Ten Commandments posters throughout our district. The bottom line is, all of our SD 10 schools were adopted and posters have been delivered, and they should be up by September 1st. 

For the Ten Commandments to be displayed, the poster or framed copy must be donated to the school(s). Various groups who support this effort have launched a digital tracking site called RestoreAmericanSchools.com.   

With this tool, you can select the school(s) in your area, purchase posters for just $1 each (including shipping), and follow a simple step-by-step guide to donate them to your local school and district. Also, the site tracks the deployment of these posters across the state. As of Friday, August 29th, here is what is reported:

Schools Adopted: 4,461
Classrooms Impacted: 156,135
Students Impacted: 2,950,952

I want to thank Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier and some of his employees for stepping forward to deliver the Ten Commandments posters to local schools. Gentlemen, thank you for your support in this important endeavor! 


Mark Davis Show, August 21

I recently joined Mark Davis to discuss redistricting, the liberal judge trying to stop implementation of the Ten Commandments law, and other legislative matters. At this LINK, scroll to time 4:15 if you’d like to take a listen.  

Fort Worth ISD Takeover Update

Back in May, I provided information regarding a possible takeover of the Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) by the state, due to consistently low ratings. This would be similar to a state takeover of the Houston ISD two years ago, which has since experienced a dramatic turnaround.

Because of FWISD’s rankings, state law requires the commissioner to make a decision about intervening and appointing a temporary superintendent and board of managers, an action I urged him to strongly consider. He expects to make a decision this fall. I am pleased to see the recent improvements in some reports; however, FWISD has a long way to go and remains the lowest performing large school district in the state of Texas.

I was raised in Fort Worth and am a product of FWISD, having graduated from Eastern Hills High School. Every child in the district deserves to have the opportunity to a quality education, and right now too many kids are being denied that chance. We must do better.

I believe former President Ronald Reagan’s words are an appropriate way to close out this latest update. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Credit: Ronald Reagan Foundation 

As you know, the Governor called a legislative special session which began on July 21st. I previously shared a list of the Governor’s items he placed on the agenda, also known as the “call.” If you would like to review this list, please click HERE. In the meantime, here’s an update on action in the Texas Senate. 

Senate Passes Ban on Taxpayer Funded Lobbying

This week, I voted for SB 12, which bans the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for lobbyists. For many years, your tax dollars have gone to fund associations that have lobbied directly against conservative priorities, and this practice must stop.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent by political subdivisions to pursue policies that are often not in the best interests of taxpayers. This creates an uneven playing field, where smaller communities are left at a disadvantage, unable to compete with larger, well-funded communities that employ professional contract lobbyists.

There is a great deal of misinformation being promulgated primarily by independent, contract lobbyists who generally contract with larger political subdivisions. SB 12 will NOT prohibit local government employees or elected officials from advocating before the legislature in their official capacity, nor will it prohibit a local government from participating in state associations as long as that association does not hire or contract with a registered lobbyist. Under SB 12, an elected officer or employee of a political subdivision may still: 

• Provide information to a legislator or appear before a legislative committee;
• Influence or attempt to influence the outcome of legislation in their official capacity; and
• Receive reimbursement for direct travel expenses incurred by the officer or employee for engaging in lobby activities.

This is common-sense legislation that prioritizes the interests of taxpayers. As a reminder, this measure is one of the top eight official legislative priorities of the Republican Party of Texas. In the 2020 Republican Primary, voters were asked their opinion on the following ballot measure: “Texas should ban the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying, which allows your tax dollars to be spent on lobbyists who work against the taxpayer.” Over 94% voted YES.

THC Ban, SB 5, Passes Texas Senate

I served in law enforcement for many years, including 15 years as a police officer with the Fort Worth Police Department. As a result, I tend to view many public policy decisions through the lens of what is best for public safety. I support SB 5 because we must stop the onslaught of dangerous addictive products sold in everything from gas stations to specialty shops located very near – sometimes next door – to schools. It’s no surprise that every law enforcement association in the state of Texas is strongly supporting this ban.  

Study after study proves the harmful effects of these unregulated products, including stunting brain development in our young people. There are also strong implications of organized criminal activity, including money laundering, in this industry that has exploded across our state. In just the last three years, over 8,000 storefronts have opened …. compare that with only about 1,200 McDonald’s in all of Texas! SB 5 is NOT a ban on appropriate, doctor-supervised medical uses for marijuana and THC products.

Improving Election Integrity

SB 11 will allow the Attorney General’s office more power to prosecute crimes related to elections, including voter fraud. This is needed because history has shown if there is potential election fraud, local officials may be able to block local prosecution due to political pressure. Additionally, there are occasions when these cases may involve violations across more than one county, requiring a statewide approach to prosecution. 

Congressional Redistricting

On July 9th, Governor Abbott added congressional redistricting to the special session call. Subsequently, I was named by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to Chair the Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting.

On Monday, July 21st, I presented a resolution to the Texas Senate to address the unique nature of redistricting and to ensure a fair and transparent process. The procedures in this resolution are exactly the same as we adopted in 2021 (SR 4) and then again in the 2023 redistricting (SR 2). I shared with my colleagues my belief that it is in our best interest to carry out the same procedures and process this session. My goal for this resolution is to equip us for success in adopting lawful maps through a fair and transparent process. The resolution was adopted.

This resolution allows the Committee to hold regional hearings in the Capitol and provide a process for the public to participate in those hearings via video conference. The Committee held four regional hearings, and they allowed us to have conversations with people from all parts of the state about their local communities to assist us in the critical task of redistricting. 

We have re-established the public-input portal on the Committee website that has been used in prior sessions so that any interested party can submit written comments on redistricting. All portal submissions are shared with senators and publicly posted on our website. The portal will remain active throughout the redistricting process, and can be found by clicking HERE. 
 

Recent Attack on Johnson County Officer Results in Arrests 

On July 4th, an unarmed Alvarado police officer was shot when a group of 11 people attacked an ICE facility in Johnson County in what has been described as a “coordinated ambush.” While 10 people were arrested not long after the attack, the 11th suspect remained at large. I’m happy to report that the last suspect was apprehended on Tuesday, July 15th, through joint efforts of the FBI, DPS, and SWAT teams. We commend our brave law enforcement officers who were doing their job and implementing policies as outlined by President Trump. We are grateful that all suspects have been arrested, and that the officer who was shot will survive. I spoke to the Alvarado Chief of Police who shared that had the bullet landed just a couple of inches away, the officer would have died.
 

The last suspect in the July 4th attack was arrested on Tuesday, July 15th.

Mark Your Calendar: August 8-10 Is Sales Tax Free Weekend
It’s hard to believe that the start of school is just around the corner for kids across SD 10 and our state. A reminder that next weekend, August 8-10, is the annual Sales Tax Holiday Weekend. No sales tax will be charged on purchases of most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks (backpacks must be under $100). For more information, and to see a full list of qualifying items, please click HERE.