The 2025 Legislative Session ended on Monday, June 2nd, and we are hearing that we may be called back for a special session in July.
We accomplished a great deal, and that is due in part to a very strong relationship between Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows. With both chambers working on shared common goals, we were able to accomplish almost all of our major objectives. Were some things left undone? Of course. I’ve never served in a legislative session where I got everything I wanted. But I am very proud of some of our key, substantive wins:
Property Tax Relief: We allocated more funds for property tax relief than ever before, with nearly 1 of every 4 dollars from our state budget earmarked towards property tax relief. With a $200,000 homestead exemption for those over 65, an average senior will pay no property taxes on the school district portion of their tax bill. (See more details in the next section).
DOGE/Major Government Reform: Inspired by President Trump’s efforts at the national level, Texas passed SB 14, our own DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) package. Though Texas is an economic and job creation powerhouse (the 8th largest economy in the world), we have issues to address in the regulatory environment. SB 14 seeks to provide a major overhaul of regulations to better serve taxpayers. I was privileged to carry this priority bill in the Senate at Lt. Governor Patrick’s request.
Ensuring Water for the Future: We simply can’t overlook the need to better prepare our state for future growth, and that means providing for our long-term water supply. With SB 7 and HJR 7, we earmarked $2.5 billion to jump start a new water fund, and in November voters will have the chance to vote on providing a long-term funding source of $1 billion per year for the next 20 years. In terms of critical significance and importance, I view this undertaking as similar to building the U.S. Interstate Highway system.
Improving the Electric Grid: We made significant progress in passing SB 6, which I authored to upgrade grid reliability and security. Our efforts have received national attention, as Texas is leading the way in preparing for the enormous demands created by the explosion of AI and data centers.
Stopping Lottery Corruption: It was shocking to learn that organized crime had infiltrated the Texas Lottery. As a result, we shut down the Texas Lottery Commission, transferred oversight to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and implemented new safeguards to ensure transparency and integrity in the operation of the lottery.
Throughout the summer, I will be providing more specific details on legislation we passed covering various subject matters. Today, I begin by providing more detail on SB 4, the major property tax relief package.
More Property Tax Relief Passed by Legislature, Ready for Voter Approval
When I wrote to you in February, I stated: “With Texas enjoying another budget surplus, I believe we must return those funds to the taxpayers.” I’m pleased to report that with the passage of SB 4, we have passed out priority property tax relief legislation.
Raises the residential homestead exemption to $140,000.
Raises the residential homestead exemption to $200,000 for those over 65 or disabled.
Provides a $125,00 exemption from the business personal property tax.
Voters must approve this measure in a statewide constitutional election, just as prior increases to the homestead exemption have gone before the voters. In 2023, voters approved an increase in the property tax exemption with 83% support. Amending the constitution makes it much harder for these exemptions to ever be rolled back in the future.
You may recall that in 2015, we increased the residence homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000. In 2017, the Legislature passed and voters approved increasing the exemption up to $40,000 per homestead. In November 2023, voters approved House and Senate action to raise the homestead exemption to $100,000.
At least two million Texan households are expected to see reduced property tax bills if the proposed exemption is approved in November. As Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stated, “The average senior homeowner will no longer pay any school property taxes for the rest of their life as long as they live in their home. Homeowners under 65 years old will now see almost 50% of their school taxes cut.”
The Governor’s Veto Power: June 22 Deadline
This session over 9,000 bills were filed by members of the House and Senate, and of those about 1,600 were passed. Once the Governor receives a bill, he can sign the bill, veto the bill, or allow the bill to pass without his signature. Gov. Abbott has 10 days to act from receiving the bill or 20 days after the last day of session, if it was within the last 10 days of session. A bill becomes a law the 91st day after final adjournment unless otherwise specified. Constitutional amendments go to the voters for their approval in the following November election. The deadline for Gov. Abbott to veto a bill is June 22. If a bill has not been signed or vetoed by that date, it will automatically become law.
Senate Memorial In Honor of Our Son Josh
On the last day of the session, my family and I were deeply moved by my colleagues in the Texas Senate who presented a memorial resolution honoring our son Josh, who passed away on April 5th. Terry, my daughter-in-law Sarah, Josh and Sarah’s daughter Katie and several more of our family members were present for this occasion.
While holding my granddaughter Katie, I was able to share our family’s gratitude during remarks on the Senate floor. If you would like to watch this memorial recognition, click HERE.
My granddaughter Katie was so well behaved as her Dad was remembered by the Texas Senate. Terry and I were so grateful for this special memorial resolution delivered on the last day of the session.
Monday, June 2nd, is the last day of the 89th Legislative Session. In these final hours, both staff and members are increasingly weary from the lack of sleep due to early mornings and late nights. There are tense negotiations on the final remaining bills where the Senate and House haven’t reconciled differences in different versions of bills. Frustration began to rise over the past week as some members see their bills die as the legislative clock runs out. In fact, three House members were taken to the hospital last week due to high blood pressure and other issues.
I’ve watched this process for many years, first in the House and now in the Senate, and have learned that patience and grace goes a long way. As my son Josh often stated, joy is a choice, and that is the calling for both me and our team in these final hours.
The good news for Texas is that numerous priority bills such as property tax relief, protecting our citizens from violent criminals, cracking down on efforts to sexualize innocent children, and improving the electric grid have already been sent to the governor. There are literally hundreds of bills passed each session, and over the summer I will inform you on many additional bills that will be signed by the governor. Also, the state budget received final approval yesterday, and in future newsletters I will be sharing more detail on the biennial budget for the 2026-2027 period. In the meantime, let me begin by sharing just some of the bills we have passed:
SB 6: Major Electricity Grid Reliability Legislation (see more on this below).
SB 13: Stopping Pornographic Books from School Libraries. This legislation provides more control for parents in determining what books their children are allowed to see.
SB 17: Texas is Not for Sale to Hostile Enemy Nations. With this new law, those in foreign adversarial nations such as Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia who pose national security threats can no longer buy land in Texas.
SB 2420: App Store Accountability Act. This legislation provides parents with tools to ensure that Big-Tech will now face guardrails in how they market and sell downloadable apps to minors. App providers must obtain verifiable parental consent, display accurate and enforceable age ratings, and implement secure and anonymous age verification in a centralized format.
SB 379: Banning Use of Food Stamps (SNAP) to Purchase Junk Food. This bill prohibits items such as candy, sodas, and sweet drinks from being purchased using taxpayer dollars. This is an important step to stop subsidizing the purchase of junk food which then leads to higher health care costs that taxpayers once again end up paying for.
SB 10: Restoring the Ten Commandments to Public Classrooms. (see more on this in the next section).
SB 11: Allowing for Prayer in Public Schools. SB 11 allows public schools to offer students and staff a daily period for prayer or religious text reading.
SB 12: The Texas Parents Bill of Rights. With SB 12, we reassert the fundamental rights of parents in determining the environment for their children’s education. We prohibit DEI policies and ban LGBTQ clubs in K-12 public schools. Our schools must be safe havens for education, not a breeding ground for liberal indoctrination.
SB 14: Implementing DOGE Regulatory Reform in Texas. (see more on this in the next section).
SB 33: Stopping Taxpayers from Funding Abortion Travel. Some cities like Austin and San Antonio were using taxpayer dollars to fund lodging and travel expenses for residents who terminate their pregnancies outside of Texas. This will no longer be permitted.
HB 2715: Holding Local Officials Accountable. This legislation ensures that those who abuse their office are held accountable, providing more uniform and transparent removal processes. This bill earned bipartisan support, with over two-thirds of legislators from both chambers voting yes.
HB 229: Defining Man and Woman in Texas Government Code, The Women’s Bill of Rights. This bill establishes a legal definition of biological sex in Texas government code. It specifies that governmental entities collecting vital statistics, such as birth records or driver’s licenses, must classify individuals strictly as either “male” or “female” based on biological reproductive capacity. This bill affirms what we all know: there are only two biological sexes.
SJR 37: Affirming That Only Citizens Can Vote. This November, Texas voters will have the opportunity to make an ironclad statement that only citizens can vote in Texas elections. Texas SJR 37 is a constitutional amendment that would prohibit non-citizens from voting in Texas. It clarifies that only United States citizens are eligible to vote.
On to the Governor: SB 6, Major Electric Grid Reliability Legislation Has Passed
In one of the most sweeping electricity legislative packages passed in over a decade, SB 6, a bill I authored to prepare Texas for the future, was sent to Governor Abbott this weekend. To illustrate the challenge, consider this data point: the ERCOT power peak in 2024 was around 86 Gigawatts (GW). However, ERCOT estimates load growth to total between 145 and 218 GWs by 2031. The vast majority of this massive increase is projected to be from data centers.
SB 6 is the product of nearly a year of working with stakeholder groups and negotiations with large customers, including data centers, traditional industries, ERCOT, and Public Utility Commission. SB 6 maintains a pro-business environment that is very attractive to data centers and other businesses. We want these companies to come to Texas, and our competitive electric market is a major selling point. At the same time, SB 6 supports a reliable, affordable grid to serve all customers, large and small.
Here are four key features of the bill:
New grid-planning tools. Reasonable up-front financial commitments and disclosure requirements from large load customers will give a more realistic picture of future growth. This is better for load forecasting and will prevent costly over or under grid buildout.
New reliability tools. SB 6 gives utilities and ERCOT additional tools to manage the loads of large customers during emergencies, including turning them down or off during load shed. Never again can we have neighborhoods go dark and without power while large load customers are fully powered.
Updated Grid Cost Allocation. Under SB 6, the PUC must update how grid costs are allocated to make sure large load customers do not shift grid costs to residential and smaller businesses. PUC rules around transmission cost allocation have not been updated in over 20 years and do not reflect current dynamics or cost-causation.
New Authority to Review Co-Location. “Co-location” is when a large customer and a generator site together. Usually, the large business customer is the sole power customer. These relationships will grow exponentially with many data centers. Generally, SB 6 supports large loads co-locating with new generation. This important strategy reduces the need for new transmission, and encourages new generation. The bill requires ERCOT and the PUC to approve proposals where a large load customer would co-locate with existing grid generation. This review will make sure that existing generation is still available to the market when needed, and protect against reliability risks and retail price escalation. This only applies to generators in operation today, not generation built in the future.
In summary, SB 6 is a much-needed bill that helps us prepare for the coming growth, keep Texas “open for business,” and ensure that Texans can have confidence in the reliability of the electric grid.
Texas Values Interview on the Ten Commandments
Last Thursday, I appeared with Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values, to discuss our successful effort to pass SB 10, the Ten Commandments bill. There’s no other single document in US history that’s had a more profound impact on our culture and on our laws than the Ten Commandments. I shared that we used the same language from the monument that is currently on the Texas Capitol grounds and that has already worked its way up to the Supreme Court and has already been approved. I discuss what is likely to happen next, with legal challenges already announced by the ACLU against the law. If you would like to listen to the full interview, visit THIS LINK.
Outlining Regulatory Reforms and Government Efficiency Under DOGE: My Interview with WallBuilders
I recently had the opportunity to participate with my friends David Barton, Tim Barton and Rick Green of WallBuilders and provide a detailed overview of SB 14, the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) initiative I authored in the Texas Senate. This bill has passed the Texas House and has already been signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. SB 14 seeks to implement regulatory reforms through a new Regulatory Efficiency Office.
Even though Texas is a pro-jobs, pro-economic development, pro-business state, a recent study found that we have the fifth most regulations of any state in America. In this interview I discuss how we seek to reverse that trend, cut red tape, and insist that government agencies utilize cost-benefit analysis before any rules are implemented.
I hope you will take a listen and give me your thoughts. You can access the interview HERE.
First, I would like to open this week by wishing all of our mothers a very happy Mother’s Day. I have been blessed in life to have a wonderful Mom who was taken from this world much too early due to illness, but she left a great impact on me. In so many ways, my stepmother Barbara filled the void left after my Mom’s passing. Proverbs 31 could be speaking of my bride Terry in this verse: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” This describes Terry perfectly! If you are a Mom, we can’t thank you enough for the critically important role you play in the life of your family. Enjoy your day!
State of Texas Considers Fort Worth ISD Action
I would like to begin by addressing a matter which constituents in Tarrant and other northern counties of Senate District 10 may have read about, and that is the possible takeover of the Fort Worth ISD (FWISD) by the state. These kinds of actions are not taken lightly. In fact, state action in these situations is actually prescribed in great detail in state law, and compels action to ensure that students in an underperforming district receive the education to which they are entitled. Here are some disturbing data points related to the district:
FWISD has 77 campuses rated D or F, based on the 2023 A-F state accountability ratings; this represents 42% of the 183 campuses.
FWISD rated a D overall.
Eight of these campuses have not met minimum academic standards since at least 2018.
The Leadership Academy at Forest Oak 6th Grade campus has received an unacceptable academic rating for five consecutive years, triggering mandatory commissioner action.
In terms of grade level proficiency, data from the most recent available year indicate that only 32% of 3rd grade students are reading on grade level and only 31% of students are doing math on grade level.
It’s not surprising, then, that Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has said that Fort Worth ISD is the “worst performing urban school district in the state of Texas.” I met with Commissioner Morath on Monday to discuss this situation. He has not made a decision on final action, but will continue to gather information. A state takeover would not be unprecedented. After the Houston ISD continued to show poor performance, in 2023 the Texas Education Agency placed the district under a board of managers. HISD has seen significant improvement since then.
Regardless, this is an unacceptable situation, and something must change. 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.
Sen. Phil King, a Weatherford Republican who represents about half of Fort Worth ISD, said the Texas Education Agency “has an obligation to take a very, very hard look at taking over the school district.” The district has gone too long without meaningful improvement in its academic performance, he said, and state education officials need to do something substantial to turn the district around.
Progress on Property Tax Relief
We have recently made important progress on resolving the differences between the Senate and House on how to provide another round of major property tax relief to both homeowners and businesses. No one disputes the need to provide desperately needed relief. The issue, once again this session, is how to best structure a package to do so. On Monday, the Senate Local Government and the House Ways & Means Committees took up and passed bills from the opposite chambers that would raise the amount of money homeowners can deduct from their local school property tax bills and the amount that owners can write off for business personal property taxes. The House Ways & Means Committee Chair has stated that SB 4, which the Senate passed earlier this session, will pass out of his committee as is. SB 4 increases the homestead exemption for all homeowners up to $140,000; senior and disabled homeowners can receive a $200,000 homestead exemption.
On the Senate side, the Local Government Committee voted out legislation from the House related to how we provide business property tax relief. After numerous discussions, we have agreed to raise the business personal property exemption to $125,000. I expect there will be significant action in the coming week, bringing us closer to final passage on legislation that can be sent to the Governor for him to sign.
All 40 Top Senate Priorities Have Passed the Senate
In my most recent newsletter I updated you on the progress of priority legislation, and I can now report that the Senate has passed all 40 of our key priority bills. Some progress has been made by the Texas House in advancing some of this legislation, but much work remains to be done. With the clock ticking towards the last day of the session on Monday, June 2, time is of the essence. I’m proud of the Senate for advancing a robust conservative agenda, including bills such as:
SB 4: Provides major property tax relief SB 6: A bill I authored to improve the reliability of our Texas Electric Grid SB 8: Requires local law enforcement to assist the federal government in their deportation efforts SB 10: A bill I authored to place the Ten Commandments in our schools SB 14: The DOGE bill I authored to increase government efficiency and reform. This bill has already been signed by Gov. Abbott SB 20: Putting an end to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Child Pornography SB 26: Increasing Teacher Pay SB 40: To protect our citizens, implementing much needed bail reform
Before I provide a legislative update, let me first open with a personal note. I want to express my heartfelt thanks and gratefulness for the many kind expressions of condolences so many of you extended to me, Terry, and our entire family in the wake of our son Josh’s passing.
We miss him terribly. And it has been a hard period, but we have been comforted by so many of you who have expressed fond memories of what Josh meant to you. Our son was a devoted disciple of Christ who placed his trust in his Lord and Savior. We are promised and believe that when we see Josh again he will be completely healed and we will spend eternity with him.
Again, thank you sincerely. We will always remember your kindness.
First Bill Signed By Governor Abbott Is Our DOGE Government Efficiency Bill
I’m excited to share that the first bill from the current legislative session signed into law by Governor Abbott is SB 14, our bill to increase government efficiency and reform. It was a privilege to author this DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) legislation in the Texas Senate, with a goal to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely and that outdated regulations are repealed. Representative Giovanni Capriglione was the House sponsor.
NFIB Texas, which represents thousands of Texas small businesses, said, “Governor Abbott’s signing of SB 14 marks a historic step for Texas small businesses, creating the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office and building on the Small Business Freedom Council’s recommendations to reduce regulations, taxes, and workforce barriers. This legislation sets the stage for what could be the most impactful session for small businesses in Texas history.”
I joined Gov. Greg Abbott at the signing of SB 14, the Texas DOGE bill. Also attending the signing ceremony were Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione.
With Only 34 Days Left in Session, Major Legislation Has Passed the Senate
As of today, there are only 34 days left in the session as we approach sine die (end of session) on June 2nd. The Texas Senate has passed over 600 bills over to the Texas House, and we will continue to focus on passing well-crafted legislation rooted in conservative principles that benefits Texans. Here are some of the top bills that have passed the Senate:
Senate Bill 1 – Senate’s Budget for Texas Senate Bill 2 – Providing School Choice Senate Bill 3 – Banning THC in Texas Senate Bill 4 – Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $140,000 ($150,000 for Seniors) Senate Bill 5 – Combatting Alzheimer’s – Establishing DPRIT (Dementia Prevention & Research Institute of Texas) Senate Bill 6 – Increasing Texas’ Electric Grid Reliability Senate Bill 7 – Increasing Investments in Texas’ Water Supply Senate Bill 8 – Requiring Local Law Enforcement to Assist the Federal Government’s Deportation Efforts Senate Bill 9 – Reforming Bail – Keeping Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Senate Bill 10 – Placing the Ten Commandments in School Senate Bill 11 – Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School Senate Bill 12 – Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights in Public Education Senate Bill 13 – Guarding Against Inappropriate Books in Public Schools Senate Bill 14 – Texas DOGE – Improving Government Efficiency Senate Bill 15 – Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing Senate Bill 16 – Stopping Non-Citizens from Voting Senate Bill 17 – Stopping Foreign Adversaries’ Land Grabs Senate Bill 18 – Stopping Drag Time Story Hour Senate Bill 19 – Stopping Taxpayer Dollars for Lobbyists Senate Bill 20 – Stopping AI Child Pornography Senate Bill 21 – Establishing the Texas Bitcoin Reserve Senate Bill 22 – Generating Significant Returns for the Texas Economy Senate Bill 23 – Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $200,000 for Seniors Senate Bill 24 – Educating Texas Students on the Horrors of Communism Senate Bill 25 – Making Texas Healthy Again Senate Bill 26 – Increasing Teacher Pay Senate Bill 27 – Establishing a Teacher Bill of Rights Senate Bill 28 – Banning Lottery Couriers Senate Bill 29 – Texas: Open for Business Senate Bill 30 – Curbing Nuclear Verdicts Senate Bill 32 – Business Tax Relief Senate Bill 33 – Stopping Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel Senate Bill 34 – Wildfire Response Senate Bill 35 – Competing for Quality Roads Senate Bill 36 – Establishing a Homeland Security Division within DPS Senate Bill 37 – Reforming Faculty Senates Senate Bill 38 – Stopping Squatters Senate Bill 39 – Protecting Texas Trucking Senate Bill 40 – Bail Reform
A Historic Session for Education: School Choice, School Funding, Teacher Pay Raises, and Bill of Rights
This is shaping up to be a monumental session for education in Texas, with major legislation to provide school choice through education savings accounts, unprecedented levels of funding for public education, providing for teacher pay raises, and improving the classroom environment for our educators through a Teacher Bill of Rights.
School Choice, Empowering Parents: Providing parents with new opportunities to choose the best education for their child, Senate Bill 2 dedicates $1 billion for the education savings account program. The Texas House passed this bill with minor changes, the Senate concurred, and now this historic legislation is on its way to the Governor’s desk. It is my belief that SB 2 will expand educational options for families, allowing their children to better reach their God-given abilities in school and create a better future for themselves. Well over 30 states currently have school choice, and in the 2026-2027 school year Texas will finally join in providing these opportunities for our citizens. When the Legislature returns in January 2027, we will take a close look at how the launch has been implemented and make any adjustments needed.
Increased Public School Funding: For the 5.4 million public school students, Texas demonstrates robust investments in funding public education. Just ten years ago, we funded public schools with approximately $40 billion; we are now at over $80 billion. Over half of our state budget now goes to funding schools. Normally, about $2 billion in new dollars are allocated for public schools; right now, we are currently at between $6 and $8 billion in new funding.
Teacher Pay Raises: The Senate has passed the largest teacher pay raise in Texas history. We strive to retain teachers with a tangible demonstration that we value their contribution. First, we establish guaranteed yearly pay increases for teachers with at least three years of experience, with additional increases for those with five or more years. We have endeavored to address the discrepancies between those who teach in urban versus rural areas. Teachers in smaller districts (5,000 students or less) receive larger raises: $5,000 for 3-4 years of experience and $10,000 for 5+ years. Teachers in larger districts receive $2,500 for 3-4 years and $5,500 for more than 5+ years. The bill expands the Teacher Incentive Allotment, allowing for higher bonuses for teachers based on performance, and provides free Pre-K for their children.
Teachers Bill of Rights: With SB 27, we empower educators to enforce discipline. Teachers who love their profession should never leave because classroom discipline has broken down or they fear for their safety.
Honoring Patty Williams in the Texas Legislature
On Monday, April 14, we honored Patty Williams, wife of Congressman Roger Williams who passed away on January 18. This was an opportunity to remember the life of an outstanding person who made so many contributions to her community and state. If you would like to read the resolution unanimously passed by both the Texas Senate and Texas House, visit this link.
Congressman Roger Williams along with his daughters, granddaughters, and friends came to the State Capitol on April 14 as we honored the life of Patty Williams.
“Lemonade Day”: Supporting Young Entrepreneurs (Including my Grandkids!)
Saturday was a day to be a proud grandpa and support a great initiative as well. “Lemonade Day” was founded to give young people direct, hands-on experience in the free enterprise system, encouraging them to take risks by starting, own and operate their very own business…a lemonade stand. These hotbeds of entrepreneurship launched all over the state on Saturday, and there were over 20 lemonade stands in Parker County alone. I stopped by PlainsCapital Bank to support one in Weatherford where it just so happens that some of my grandsons built the stands for this particular operation. The kids participating share in the profits they make but are also encouraged to give back to their community.
Returning the Ten Commandments Back to our Classrooms: SB 10
It’s time to return the Ten Commandments back to our classrooms where they were displayed for over 200 years, and I’m pleased the Texas Senate has passed my legislation to do so. Few documents in the history of Western civilization and in American history have had a larger impact on our moral and legal code, and our culture, than the Ten Commandments. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled – in a now discredited decision – that the Ten Commandments could no longer be displayed in public schools. However, in the 2022 landmark decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the Supreme Court overturned the precedent that it relied upon in its 1980 decision and that had been used in attempts to eradicate all references to religion from the public square. Now, with the passage of SB 10, the Ten Commandments may once again be posted in Texas public school classrooms. SB 10 will provide moral clarity and help students understand the foundation for much of American history and law. Right now, the Ten Commandments are displayed inside the U.S. Supreme Court and a monument to the Ten Commandments stands prominently on the Texas Capitol grounds.
I appreciate the work of Texas Values, who strongly backed our efforts to pass SB 10.
Protecting the Freedom to Pray in Schools: SB 11
SB 11 allows public schools to provide time for students and educators to pray or read the Bible or other religious texts during school. The provision requires consent of students and educators to participate, and students and educators can revoke their consent at any time. Additionally, prayer time is not permitted to interfere with instructional time. I am encouraged that the Texas Senate is taking this kind of action to restore religious liberty.
Banning Drag Queen Story Hour: SB 18
It’s really outrageous that we must pass laws to protect our kids from the continued, intentional assault on their innocence. But we must, and this week we did. Very simply, any library that facilitates drag queen story hours would receive no state funding. These politically, ideologically driven programs have no place in our public libraries but have taken place in several cities. Last session we passed legislation to ban sexually oriented performances in front of minors, including drag performances. However, the American Civil Liberties Union has challenged that law so it has not yet gone into effect.
Removing Inappropriate Content From School Libraries: SB 13
In testimony on SB 13 in the Education K-16 Committee, one witness pointed out that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a list of over 10,000 books prohibited in Texas prisons, yet hundreds of those books sit on the shelves in some school libraries! We continue to see materials in some school libraries that are simply not age appropriate. In response, we passed SB 13, which gives parents more say in the content of these books available to their kids. The bill mirrors existing FCC guidelines which state that inappropriate content should not be on TV or radio between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. – the hours in which children may reasonably be in the audience. It follows, then, that our young kids should not be exposed to this content in school libraries where they could view this material. SB 13 provides new transparency and structure to ensure that parents have access to the materials their child checks out from the school library. The bill creates school library advisory councils comprised of parents, educators, and local community leaders to provide input on the book acquisition process; books could only be purchased after an elected school board has approved them.
We also passed SB 412, which would repeal “obscenity exemptions” and thereby provide more protection from sexually explicit books turning up in schools. By closing current loopholes, the bill makes clear that the only defense exemptions are for judicial or law enforcement officers performing their official duties.
Banning Dangerous THC: Law Enforcement, Parents and Texas Senate Unite to pass SB 3
With strong backing from law enforcement and parents whose kids have experienced devastating impacts such as psychosis and paranoia from THC abuse, the Texas Senate passed the toughest THC ban in the nation.
You have no doubt seen the proliferation of shops that have sprung up in strip centers, gas stations and other outlets across the state selling gummies, vapes, drinks and other products laced with dangerous synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol — or THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. In fact, there are now well over 8,000 of these retailers. To put this in perspective, there are only 1,220 McDonalds restaurants in the entire state of Texas.
Closing loopholes currently being cynically exploited by retailers often targeting our youth, SB 3 would ban the presence of any amount of THC in a consumable product sold in Texas. Of particular concern is the fact that so many of these outlets are in close proximity to schools, even though it is illegal to sell these products to minors. One North Texas police chief stated, “Most people think that if you walk into a store and you’re able to buy something from a retail establishment, it must be legal and it must be safe. With these THC consumables, neither is true. Intentional mislabeling on many products have led to accidental overdoses and increased addiction.” Many of these products have three to four times the THC content which might be found in marijuana purchased from a drug dealer. Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn stated that the percentage of inmates dealing with mental illness has grown from 25% to 70%, largely due to the dramatic increase in availability of Delta 8 & 9.
To be clear, this ban would not affect doctor-prescribed and regulated substances that are used by veterans to treat chronic pain and PTSD under Texas’ Compassionate Use Program. Under this program, patients dealing with medical issues such as autism, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and seizure disorders find relief. The difference is, these products are prescribed by medical professionals, not sold at a gas station.
Texas Parental Bill of Rights: SB 12
Over the last several years, parents have been forced to step forward and reassert that they are the ultimate authority on the upbringing, education, and medical treatments concerning their children. SB 12 will provide parents with a powerful new weapon in that fight. Here are some of the provisions of the bill:
Strengthens the ban on Critical Race Theory, addressing some loopholes that some districts have exploited.
Eliminates DEI mandates in hiring, training, and school policies.
Bans any sexual orientation or gender identity instruction.
Guarantees parents full access to their child’s education records—curriculum, test scores, library materials, and any changes to their mental or physical well-being.
Requires parental consent for medical, psychiatric, or psychological treatment.
Protects a family’s right to guide their child’s moral and religious upbringing, including decisions about sex education.
Preparing Texas for Growing, Massive Power Demands: SB 6
The Senate passed my bill, SB 6, to ensure the reliability of the electric grid. Given the complexity of this subject, I will provide a more detailed explanation of this legislation in the coming weeks. First, though, I’d like to outline the challenge.
Over the past few years, we have seen tremendous growth in electricity demand that comes from data centers, AI computing, manufacturing facilities and several other types of industries that consume large amounts of electricity. We are seeing trends in a single customer requesting connection to the grid that uses more power than the entire city it would be located in. We are blessed to be a state that has been experiencing growth for many years and we want this development to continue. However, these facilities require an extraordinary amount of electricity that needs to be managed properly as to not create reliability risks or pricing issues for every day Texans.
To put this in perspective, the peak electricity demand for 2024 was roughly 86 GW (gigawatts) of power. Our grid operators release a report annually that forecasts our electric demand. Last spring we were told the demand could reach 150 GW by 2030 – a dramatic and unprecedented increase no state has ever seen. We are expecting that number to rise even more in the report that will be released within the next month. On top of that, our grid operators also published a report that estimates Texas’ available generation supply could fall short of peak demand by the summer of 2027.
To protect the jobs and economic growth we have come to expect, we have no choice but to act, or the grid will be at risk. SB 6 will improve our grid reliability so we can take on these large loads and protect consumers.
Protecting Texas Land from Adversarial Foreign Ownership: SB 17
Another important bill passed this week is SB 17, which seeks to protect our land from being owned by countries hostile to the United States. The bill prohibits foreign governmental entities, companies, and individuals from purchasing private property in Texas if they are from countries identified in the latest Annual Threat Assessment reports by the Director of National Intelligence. As of today, those countries are Russia, North Korea, Iran and China. SB 17 also makes clear that the prohibitions do not apply to United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, including dual citizens; furthermore, the bill is not intended to undermine anyone who might be truly fleeing the tyranny of oppressive governments to seek freedom in Texas.
Recognizing World Down Syndrome Day
Terry and I have two grandchildren with Down Syndrome, Sunshine and Joy, who have blessed us tremendously. Friday, March 21st was World Down Syndrome Day, and on Wednesday I presented a resolution to bring awareness to this issue. We were joined by representatives from many organizations from all over the state, including The Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas and the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas. The theme for 2025 is “Improve Our Support Systems” which calls on governments across the world to ensure that people with disabilities have an adequate support system so that they are included in the community.
To raise awareness for the day many people wear a pair of mismatched, brightly colored socks, and I was happy to do my part.
As the Senate recognized World Down Syndrome Day, we welcomed Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas Executive Director Kim Smiley (right) and Program Assistant Lauren Fairchild. Lauren works full time at the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas to raise awareness of the potential of all people with Down Syndrome.
Gene Getz is one of the most respected pastors and spiritual leaders of our time, and I have had the privilege of getting to know him over the past decade. In 1972, Dr. Getz began his involvement in church planting and launched the Fellowship Bible Church movement, which has led to the establishment of hundreds of congregations throughout the nation. After retirement, Dr. Getz completed work on his interactive Life Essentials StudyBible, which has been a huge blessing to me as I study scripture. Its unique format includes 1500 “principles to live by,” each with a QR code providing access to 250 total hours of commentary from Dr. Getz. As part of his visit, Dr. Getz delivered each member of the senate one of these bibles, personally inscribed with their name. He is the author of more than 60 books, including The Measure of aMan: Twenty Attributes of a Godly Man, a classic in Christian literature. Dr. Getz graduated from Moody Bible Institute, and he later taught there and at Dallas Theological Seminary; he holds a master’s degree from Wheaton College Graduate School and a Ph.D. from New York University. He is 93 years old and resides in Plano with his wife Elaine.
First Economic Development Committee Meeting Hears My Legislation to Establish Texas Trade Office in Israel
Last Monday, I held the first meeting of the new Senate Economic Development Committee, which I chair. One of our first bills heard was SCR 24, legislation I authored to create a new trade office in Israel, which will provide numerous benefits. Israel is a leader in technology innovation, cybersecurity, energy, agriculture and water conservation, which are all areas that align closely with Texas’ economic strengths. Texas ranks among the top U.S. states for exports to Israel, contributing billions of dollars annually to the economies of both regions through trade in the technology, medical equipment and defense industries. The Middle East is a virtually untapped regional market for Texas companies, and Israel is the only diplomatic country in the Middle East with open trade opportunities for Texas. Israel’s advanced innovation in some of Texas’ largest industries is an underutilized resource. Texas and Israel maintain a robust trade relationship, but there is not a physical presence Texas can rely on to improve the bond.
I crafted a resolution which supports a Texas Trade and Investment office in Jerusalem, Israel, as the center of trade and investment activities for Israel and countries that are a part of the Abraham Accords or have signed peace treaties with Israel. A budget rider has been submitted to the Senate Finance Committee to cover the costs of starting this office. The State of Texas Israel Trade and Investment Office would be modeled after the two standing international offices (in Mexico and Taiwan), and would serve as the attraction tool for companies in the region.
SB 20: Stopping AI Generated Child Pornography
Last week the Senate passed Senate Bill 20, a bill aimed at strengthening the laws against possession, promotion, and distribution of sexually explicit material that involves children, including those created by computer or artificial intelligence (AI). We must continue to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our youngest Texans, and punish those who commit these despicable acts to the fullest extent of the law.
Making Texas and America Healthy Again
The Senate unanimously passed SB 25, a landmark piece of legislation to combat the growing health crisis in our state due to poor food choices, lack of nutritional education and knowledge, and a sedentary lifestyle. This bill aims to improve health and nutrition standards in Texas schools by mandating that students in full-day PreK through grade eight engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. It requires students in grades six to eight to participate in this activity for at least six semesters, and prohibits schools from penalizing students with restrictions on physical activities due to academic performance or behavior. Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for high school students to complete a half-credit course in nutrition, based on guidelines from the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, which will also be established by this bill. The Senate also passed SB 314, which will prohibit dangerous chemicals such as cancer-causing dyes from being served in school lunches.
SB 140: Cracking Down on Unsolicited Text Messages
In our continued quest to cut down on “spam” contacts from telemarketers, we have shored up current law to include specific language regarding unsolicited text messages. Currently, the law does not define “telephone call” and does not include “text messaging,” which created a loophole for telemarketers to hide behind when sending out text solicitations. This law will provide a fix for this issue.
Border Wall Update
According to the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) as of February 20 about 56.9 miles of the border wall program had been completed. Active construction is simultaneously underway at 12 locations in six border counties. The TFC has closed on 105 easements representing approximately 70.3 miles of Texas Border Wall, with another 31 miles of easements in various stages. Based on current appropriations, the TFC can build up to 85 miles of the wall between Texas and Mexico. Due to border security efforts here in Texas and of course with President Trump’s leadership, we’re trending towards the lowest monthly border crossings in 25 years. During the Biden years, Texas did far more than any other state to secure the border and combat drug and human trafficking. How refreshing to finally have a partner in the White House who works with us – not against us – in that effort.
Most of SD 10 Faces Elevated Fire Risk
As you can see in this graphic from National Weather Service in Fort Worth, our region faces a critical fire weather threat. Let’s make sure we do everything possible to avoid fires that can create destruction of homes and businesses as well as threaten agriculture, livestock and even human life. Please honor all burn bans in effect in your local county.
The Week Ahead
This week we will be past sixty days in the session. This means that we will now be able to consider bills on the floor of the Senate that aren’t emergency items declared by the governor, so we expect many priority bills to pass this week. Always remember, we are a bicameral legislature, which means that the Texas House must also pass the measures we discussed in this newsletter and in previous updates. If you would like to watch the Senate proceedings, you can visit this LINK to watch both committee hearings as well as when the full Senate is in session.
Last week I chaired the first meeting of the new Senate Economic Development Committee.
It was great to see Pastor Rafael Cruz in the Senate K-16 Education Committee hearing last week.
I had the chance to meet with Johnson County constituents Craig Hundley, Becca Reese, and Phil Williams.
Nurse Practitioners from SD 10 were in the Capitol this past Monday. Thanks for stopping by our office!
Stopping “Deepfakes” and AI Fake Images Used to Exploit Children
This week, the Criminal Justice Committee on which I serve passed numerous bills to address the troubling rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) being used to create fake images of children which can then be used to groom and abuse them. You may have heard the term “deepfakes,” which are AI manipulated images of real people showing them doing and saying things they never did, which typically involves teenagers or adults. However, criminals are increasingly using technology to generate child sex abuse material (CSAM) or non-consensual sexual images of adults. This issue was studied in the interim period since the last session, and these bills ensure bad actors are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Texas would join 37 other states with similar legislation, giving law enforcement the tools they need to go after those involved in these despicable acts.
Texas DPS officials testified that current law requires there must be a real, actual victim to proceed with investigations. One of our proposed bills provides that if a reasonable person reviews a fake image and it is clear that it is a child, law enforcement can take action. Our committee also approved two bills providing for both criminal and civil remedies for individuals who find non-consensual, computer generated, explicit images of themselves. Additionally, I supported a bill to remove the educational defense for distributing or displaying harmful material to minors to deter harmful acts of obscenity against our kids. I must share that even after all of my years of exposure to criminal elements as a police officer, it is still deeply unsettling to see the tactics of the seedy online underworld that our committee regularly encounters. These people will stop at nothing in their efforts to destroy the innocence of our children and cause pain and embarrassment to victims of all ages.
Combating Dementia and Brain Diseases
On Wednesday, the Texas Senate passed a measure intended to create the largest brain health research center in America. SB 5 would create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), though it would study all brain diseases, not just dementia. Most of us have friends or family who have been affected by this terrible disease, which robs memories and dignity. Did you know that a person over the age of 55 has a 42 percent chance of developing dementia over the course of their life? If approved by voters in November, DPRIT would be endowed with $3 billion drawn from the current surplus. DPRIT would be modeled after Texas’ highly successful Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, or CPRIT, created in 2009. CPRIT is now the largest cancer research organization in the country and second largest in the entire world.
Establishing the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
The Texas Senate voted on Thursday to create the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, allowing the state to diversify its investments and lead the nation in this emerging resource. The bill will allow the comptroller’s office to buy, sell, and oversee cryptocurrency holdings. Creating the Reserve was identified by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a top priority for the current legislative session.
The bill doesn’t require that we invest in cryptocurrencies; instead, this bill establishes the process for doing so should we choose to invest. The Senate Finance Committee will recommend later in the session what funds – if any – should be invested in Texas’ Bitcoin Reserve. It’s clear that Bitcoin is emerging as a legitimate currency; in fact, on Thursday evening President Trump issued an executive order establishing the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Texas needs to be prepared to have this tool in our investment toolbox.
Our legislation to return posting of the Ten Commandments to Texas classrooms passed the Education K-16 Committee this week. Prior to the hearing, I met with David Barton and Tim Barton of WallBuilders, along with David’s wife Cheryl, all of whom are longtime friends. David, Tim, and Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause (representing First Liberty Institute) provided excellent testimony on the tradition of the Ten Commandments being utilized at many levels of government, and in our public schools, throughout our nation’s history.
Was honored that Coach Joe Kennedy testified in support of our bill to restore the Ten Commandments to public school classrooms; he also spoke in favor of another bill to once again allow prayer in our schools. For simply leading his football team in a moment of prayer, Coach Kennedy was fired back in 2015. He fought a seven year legal battle, resulting in a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court when they ruled against his employer, Bremerton School District. Speaking for the court’s majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that, “The best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike.” Coach Joe’s courageous story was featured in the movie “Average Joe,” which I have seen and highly recommend.
This week, I had dinner with members of the Texas Holocaust Genocide and Anti-Semitism Commission as well as legislative colleagues from the House and Senate. We discussed my legislation to crack down on the growing antisemitism on college campus and opening a Texas trade office in Israel.
This week I spoke to the Lt. Governor’s Advisory Board, which consists of businessmen and women from around the state. These are mostly business owners who are assigned to a specific board according to their expertise. The individual boards that make up the Lt. Governor’s Advisory Board focus on economic and workforce development, economic forecast, education, energy/oil and gas, health, tax policy, and transportation/port. In my remarks, I outlined how Texas is preparing to accommodate the explosive demand for electricity, driven in large part by the massive growth from new data centers being built in the state. To illustrate the power needed for these facilities, consider that a medium sized data center uses more power than an entire city the size of Waco!
Reining in Abuse Of the Texas Lottery: SB 28 Passes Senate
When the Texas Lottery was created in 1992, the intention was to allow local Texans an opportunity to play and win, not to have out of state or overseas entities rig the game. The Legislature’s intent was clear: tickets were to be bought in person (by adults, not minors) at brick and mortar retailers, and at the face value of the ticket.
Testimony this week included very serious allegations of organized criminal activity in the Texas Lottery that would have violated this legislative intent. Lax enforcement – or none at all – most likely permitted outside actors to conspire to win previous lottery jackpots. Texans must have confidence in this process and know that illegal gambling is not taking place, and I am very pleased that Governor Abbott has called for the Texas Rangers to investigate.
In the meantime, Senate Bill 28 makes clear that the Texas Lottery Commission must enforce the rules and laws that the agency has ignored, enabling bad actors to exploit the system. SB 28 would outlaw the use of third-party couriers who buy lotto tickets on behalf of customers. The bill also makes clear there should be no gaming of the process using mobile devices.
Combating Federal Overreach: Texas Sovereignty Bill Passes Senate State Affairs Committee
I’m pleased to report action on my legislation, SB 707, which establishes a process by which the Legislature can challenge the constitutionality of federal directives that hurt our state. This is another tool that Texas can use to combat federal overreach and allows the state to take a two-pronged approach to combating unconstitutional federal directives – through the Legislature and the Office of the Attorney General. Over the last four years alone, federal directives passed by the Biden Administration imposed a historic $1.7 trillion in new costs onto Americans. Attorney General Paxton has filed over 100 lawsuits challenging this federal overreach. Under current law, however, only the Texas Attorney General has the authority to challenge the constitutionality of these federal directives through the judicial system. Senate Bill 707 seeks to provide another way for the state to challenge federal overreach by establishing a process for the Legislature to do so as well.
Historic Teacher Pay Raise Passes Senate
Senate Bill 26, a $4.3 billion package that is the largest single outlay for a teacher pay raise in the country, has passed the Texas Senate and is headed to the House. This bill supports our Texas teachers by providing across the board teacher pay raises, improving the Teacher Incentive Allotment, providing free Pre-K for teachers and creating statewide teacher liability insurance.
If passed into law as currently written, SB 26 offers more to those in urban and rural districts to address the significant pay gap between the two. Teachers with three or four years on the job would get a pay bump of $2,500 in urban districts and $5,000 for rural districts (those with less than 5,000 enrollment). Teachers with five or more years’ experience in urban districts would receive $5,500; rural district teachers would receive $10,000. SB 26 ensures that incoming teachers can expect those raises going forward.
This increase is not a one-time bonus, but rather a direct pass through salary increase from the state. This increase will not go through a local school district, ensuring that this well-deserved salary increase reaches our hard working teachers.
Texas Conservative Coalition Black Tie and Boots Gala
Wednesday evening, I attended the Black Tie and Boots Gala, put on by the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI), on which I serve as Chairman. TCCRI was founded in 1996 by state leaders determined to promote conservative public policies in Texas government. TCCRI holds fast to four LIFT core principles: limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, and traditional values. TCCRI provides legislators with analysis of proposed legislation using the LIFT principles, which helps us access the thousands of bills filed each session through a conservative lens. This event helped raise funds for the organization and was very successful, with over 800 people in attendance.
Speaking at the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute’s Black Tie and Boots Gala.
Parker County Reagan Day Dinner with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
Last Thursday night, the Parker County Republican Party hosted their annual Reagan Day Dinner, held at Dove Ridge Ranch in rural Parker County. Over 230 people were in attendance. I had the privilege of attending and introducing our keynote speaker, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who laid out an inspiring and compelling vision for Texas and our future, and what’s at stake. He also shared some interesting anecdotes from his service as chairman of President Trump’s Texas campaign. Congressman Roger Williams updated everyone on what he is working on in Washington, DC.
My bride and I at the Parker County Reagan Day Dinner.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the Parker County Reagan Day Dinner.
Our table at the Parker County Event included our pastor Eric Kuykendall and his son Pearson, Gloria and Quad Boenker, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Charlie Gilchrist.
On Friday, it was a treat to read to elementary school children here in Parker County. Thank you for the invitation!
Bail Reform – Keeping Dangerous Criminals off our Streets: You may remember last week I wrote to you about four bills reforming our broken bail system that were voted out of the Criminal Justice Committee. This week, those four bills were passed by the full Senate:
SJR 1 – requires the denial of bail for an illegal alien accused of a felony
SB 9 – strengthens our bail system and protects our communities by creating more tools to keep repeat, violent offenders off our streets
SJR 5 – allows Texas to detain our most habitual, violent felony offenders without bond
SB 40 – bans taxpayer dollars from being spent on bail bonds
Pay Raises for Teachers: Also this week, Senate Bill 26, legislation for teacher pay raises, passed the Senate Education Committee, on which I serve, and is headed to the Senate floor. This bill supports our Texas teachers by providing across the board teacher pay raises (providing them the opportunity to earn over $100,000), improving the Teacher Incentive Allotment, providing free PreK for teachers’ kids, and creating statewide teacher liability insurance.
Brown County Day at the Texas Capitol
It was so good to have citizens from across Brown County in town this week as Wednesday was “Brown County Day” at the Capitol. With a population of over 38,000, the county is the economic hub for eight surrounding counties in central Texas. Major manufacturers such as 3M and Kohler have called Brownwood home for almost 50 years. The county is home to the historic Camp Bowie military base, and the county was crucial in supplying a quarter of a million soldiers during World War II. Brown County is also home to Howard Payne University, one of the premier faith-based universities in the State of Texas. Since 1889, Howard Payne University has provided its students the opportunity to further their education while growing in their faith. It’s an honor to serve the wonderful people of Brown County, who always welcome me with hospitality on my visits there.
Grateful that over 30 citizens from Brown County came to town. Some of the leaders visiting the Capitol included Brown County Republican Party Chairman Robert Porter, Brownwood City Councilman Draco Miller, Brownwood City Manager Emily Crawford, Brownwood Economic Development Department Executive Director Ray Tipton and Brownwood Deputy City Manager Marshal McIntosh.
During our question and answer session, we discussed electricity, continuing to secure the border, addressing the water crisis and educational freedom.
Recognizing Manufacturing Jobs In Our District
Tuesday was Texas Manufacturers’ Day at the Capitol. I sponsored Senate Resolution 103, highlighting the significant impact of manufacturing jobs in our senate district and across Texas. More than 847,000 Texans work in manufacturing, including over 48,000 here in Senate District 10. These are the employees who create goods and products and help make the Lone Star State the top exporting state for manufactured goods.
Manufacturing jobs are high quality and high wage jobs for our citizens, paying workers an average annual compensation of over $123,000. In Senate District 10, these employees are making products for aerospace and defense, oil and gas, agriculture, food and beverage, chemical and plastic, and metal fabrication.
To keep the “Texas Miracle” going strong, we must ensure we continue to provide the pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-job policies that have made our economy the envy of the nation.
Honoring Riley Gaines for her Courage and Leadership
On Thursday, the Texas Senate honored Riley Gaines, who was robbed of her legitimate win in college swimming by being forced to compete against a biological man. Instead of standing silent, she launched a national movement to correct this injustice. Riley was a 12-time NCAA All-American and 5-time SEC Champion. In 2022, she was forced to compete against transgender athlete Lia Thomas for a national title. Even though Riley and Lia tied with the exact same time, the NCAA awarded the trophy to Lia Thomas. In large part because of Riley’s courage, landmark legislation banning this insanity has been passed in Texas, around the country, and signed nationally by President Trump. Last session, I was proud to co-author Senate Bill 15, which requires athletes in college sports to compete under their biological gender, and protects the integrity of fair competition and women’s sports in Texas.
Inspired and Encouraged at the Texas Legislative Prayer Breakfast
Wednesday morning I joined many of my Senate and House colleagues for the Annual Texas Legislative Prayer Breakfast. Former baseball great Darryl Strawberry was the guest speaker, presenting his story not just of the gospel but the hope of redemption. Darryl played in the Major Leagues for 17 years, and led the New York Mets to win the World Series in 1986, and he won again with the New York Yankees in 1996 and 1999. He was also voted to the All-Star team eight years in a row.
This was an encouraging and inspiring message for those who follow Christ, and really to anyone present. Darryl shared his struggles and what really matters in life. Thank you to Dallas Baptist University for inviting me to be a guest at their table for this well attended event.
Senator Pete Flores (a former game warden himself) and I took time to honor those who serve as Texas Game Wardens. These law enforcement professionals work every day to protect our state’s wildlife and natural resources, and promote safety on land and water. We commend these men and women who courageously protect our state every day.
Arlington ISD trustees, Vice President Sarah McMurrough (left) and Secretary Brooklyn Richardson (right) came by to meet with me this week. Thank you for stopping by. I enjoyed our visit.
The work of your Texas State Senate is in full swing, with important action this week on providing property tax relief as well as progress on reforming a broken bail system that has allowed violent criminals to get out of jail and harm our citizens. Lots of folks from SD 10 were in Austin this week as Monday and Tuesday were Tarrant County Days at the Capitol. I hope you will take a few minutes to review my latest update, and of course you can always email me with your feedback at [email protected].
With Texas enjoying another budget surplus, I believe we must return those funds to the taxpayers. On Thursday, the Texas Senate voted out priority property tax relief legislation, SB 4 and SJR 2. This legislation would raise the current property tax exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. The exemption would be $150,000 for seniors over 65 and the disabled.
SB 4/SJR 2 must next pass the Texas House (SB 4 is the enabling legislation for SJR 2). Then, voters would need to approve this measure in a statewide constitutional election, just as prior increases to the homestead exemption have gone before the voters. Amending the constitution makes it much harder for these exemptions to ever be rolled back in the future, because passing an SJR in Texas requires a two-thirds supermajority in the House and Senate, not just a simple majority. Also, Texas voters have made clear in these elections they support these increased exemptions. Included in SB 4 is a “hold harmless” to school districts – the state will make up any formula funding deficit a school district might incur as a result of this exemption increase.
In addition to using the surplus to increase the property tax exemption, the proposed Texas budget continues what is known as “property tax compression.” Remember not too many years ago the M&O (maintenance and operation) portion of your school property tax bill was $1.50 per $100 valuation. For several sessions now, the Legislature has been using the surplus to “buy down” the M&O, and in the new budget it will go to .60 per $100 valuation, providing additional relief. Tax compression also provides tax relief to small businesses, not just homeowners.
This action continues an effort which began in 2015, when the residence homestead exemption was increased from $15,000 to $25,000. In 2017, the Legislature passed and voters approved increasing the exemption up to $40,000 per homestead. In the most recent legislature, we asked voters to raise the homestead exemption to $100,000. In 2023, voters overwhelmingly approved this measure with 83% support.
Keeping Dangerous, Violent Criminals Behind Bars: Major Bail Reform Voted Out of Committee
During my time as a Fort Worth police officer, I would arrest a criminal, book them into jail, and trust that the bail system would work to protect citizens from those who shouldn’t be released. For the most part, the system worked well, as we could usually trust judges to use their discretion properly in making these decisions.
However, the system is now broken, due to the irresponsible and reckless actions of certain liberal judges in recent years. I have not seen this occur in SD 10, where we are blessed with many fine judges – many of whom I know personally. Though Harris County and the Greater Houston area are home to some of the most shocking and egregious examples of this judicial abuse, make no mistake – these abuses have impact all across Texas. Far too often, bail is granted to violent criminals who are then released on the streets to terrorize law abiding citizens. Those who are released in one part of Texas can migrate to any county, any community, and inflict their violence again. This is frustrating to law enforcement, as those they apprehend are released in very short order.
This week in the Criminal Justice Committee, I listened to heartbreaking testimony from family members whose relatives were murdered at the hands of those released on bond. One such person was Alexis Nungaray, whose 12-year old daughter Jocelyn was kidnapped, assaulted and strangled last year. Harris County prosecutors say her alleged killers came into the country illegally, and Alexis was forced to appear in court as part of determining bail for her daughter’s killers. Jocelyn’s Mom told us, “I feel outraged that Texas judges are allowed to provide bail for evil people who do heinous things. I feel like it was a slap in the face to Jocelyn and our family to even have to make sure they got an adequate bond, because they preyed on her, on her innocence, and they had no business being here (in the U.S.) in the first place.”
Four bills to correct these injustices and reform the bail system were voted out of the Criminal Justice Committee on which I serve. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has named bail reform as one of the Senate’s top legislative priorities, and Gov. Abbott designated bail reform as an emergency item during his State of the State address. These bills now move the full Senate, and here is a summary of what each bill does.
SJR 1 prevents bail for an illegal alien accused of a felony. President Trump recently signed the “Laken Riley Act” to protect against violent offenders that are here illegally, and SJR 1 is the Texas version of this important legislation. SJR 1, to be named “Jocelyn’s Law,” would amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit bail for an undocumented immigrant accused of a felony offense.
Congressman Roger Williams calls on Congress to Reimburse Texas for Border Security
This week, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced the Operation Lone Star Reimbursement Act, allowing the State of Texas to be reimbursed for the $11.1 billion we were forced to spend on border security efforts from 2021-2025. I applaud this effort and wish Roger much success. On February 5, Gov. Greg Abbott was in Washington, D.C., meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss border security. In that meeting, the Governor said he asked the President to reimburse Texas for the $11 billion. As you know, because of the failure of the Biden/Harris administration to protect the southern border, we had no choice but to act. We have deployed aircraft, gunboats, DPS troopers, Texas Rangers, the State Guard and National Guard, installed over 5,000 cameras, established the new Texas Task Force on Border & Homeland Security, and invoked the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to work collaboratively with neighboring states. Texas has done far more than any other state to secure our border.
Tarrant County Days at the Texas Capitol
Over 140 people from Tarrant County converged on Austin to make their presence known, meet with elected officials, and enjoy their state capitol. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our office to say hello. It’s an honor to serve Tarrant County, Texas’ largest conservative county.
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare joined us on the Senate Floor on Tuesday. Judge O’Hare is doing a great job of increasing government efficiency and keeping Tarrant County a great place to live and work.
On Monday, I met with Fort Worth City Council Members and staff members about their legislative priorities for this session. Fort Worth is rapidly growing – nearing one million residents – thanks to the fantastic leadership from their local government officials, and private partners like the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
I was honored to give remarks and recognize those gathered in the gallery for Tarrant County Days at the Capitol. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, and Commissioner Matt Krause joined us on the Senate floor. Mattie was my Chief of Staff many years ago, and I have been proud to watch her serve as Mayor.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Arlington Chamber of Commerce welcomed business leaders from Tarrant County to the capitol. On Monday, I spoke to the group about our efforts to bolster the electricity grid so we can continue to provide reliable, affordable electricity to all Texans.
With my former Chief of Staff and now Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.
