News

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.

There are some important updates to cover in this week’s newsletter, especially concerning the topics for a recently announced special session, beginning July 21st, called by Governor Greg Abbott. First, though, a few thoughts about the floods which have devastated our state.

Remembering the Central Texas Flood Victims

The heart of Texas has been broken over the past week, as both the death toll and number of missing rose day after day. On Sunday, Terry and I posted our thoughts on Facebook regarding the Day of Prayer for Texas that Governor Abbott declared. I wanted to reiterate what we said earlier this week: Terry and I are grief stricken at everything we have seen and heard, and our hearts are with the families, friends and loved ones of those who have perished. We pray for God to be near to all of those who are hurting, as well as our first responders at the local, state and federal level who are still searching for victims. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18

How You Can Help

I have been asked by several people how we can assist the victims and families of Central Texas. Here are some ways you can help:

Donate: https://onestarfoundation.org/central-texas-flood-recovery-fund
Volunteer: https://tcr.communityos.org/

As a member of the Texas State Guard, I have deployed across the years to different disaster scenes. What I can say is that there are often substantial resources deployed in the initial phase of a disaster, but once the emergency services have finished their work, the needs of the local community continue for weeks and months afterwards. So yes, we should continue to support our fellow Texans now but also in the weeks and months ahead.

Special Session Announced

On June 23rd, Governor Abbott announced that a special session would be called, meaning that lawmakers will return to Austin for an additional session. Over the past 10 years, Texas has had eight special sessions, including four after the 2023 regular session.

During the regular session, any legislator can file a bill. However, during a special session, the topics legislators may consider are limited to those which are on the Governor’s “call.” Yesterday, the Governor announced a proclamation of items to be considered, and those are as follows:

FLOOD WARNING SYSTEMS: Legislation to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

FLOOD EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and other response infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

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.

NATURAL DISASTER PREPARATION & RECOVERY: Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters.

ELIMINATE STAAR TEST: Legislation to eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with effective tools to assess student progress and ensure school district accountability.

CUT PROPERTY TAXES: Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.

PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THC: Legislation making it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to children under 21 years of age.

REGULATE HEMP-DERIVED PRODUCTS : Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.

PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN: Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion.

BAN TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING: Legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded lobbying, including the use of tax dollars to hire lobbyists and payment of tax dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature.

PROTECT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 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.

POLICE PERSONNEL RECORDS: Legislation that protects law enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel files.

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

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

REDISTRICTING: Legislation that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.

TITLE THEFT & DEED FRAUD: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 648 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that provides strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud.

WATER PROJECT INCENTIVES: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1253 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that authorizes political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures.

STATE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 2878 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, relating to the operation and administration of the Judicial Department of state government.

If you would like to view the proclamation directly, click HERE.

As the special session approaches, I will provide additional information.

We continue our regular updates covering the important legislative achievements of the most recent session which ended June 2nd. Today, we review various bills to protect our faith, family, and our children.

Ten Commandments

I am especially proud to have passed Senate Bill 10, returning the Ten Commandments to our classrooms where they were displayed for over 200 years. I began working on this legislation in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which overturned outdated legal precedent and opened the door for renewed discussion about the Ten Commandments in our classrooms. Now, starting in the 2025-2026 school year, the Ten Commandments must be posted in every public school classroom. By placing the Ten Commandments in our classrooms, we can provide moral clarity for our students and make them aware of a foundational document in American history and law.

School Prayer

Senate Bill 11 is an important bill to protect religious liberty in Texas. The bill allows public schools to provide time for students and educators to pray or read religious texts during school hours. I am encouraged that this important liberty is now codified for parents and their students.

Protecting the Unborn, Promoting Life

This legislative session, the Texas Legislature made important advancements to support mothers in choosing life for their unborn babies, providing resources for young families, and eliminating the use of taxpayer funds for abortion-related travel. This includes passing key legislation, such as Senate Bill 33, which specifies that cities cannot send taxpayer funds to organizations that provide transportation for out-of-state abortions.

The Legislature also passed Senate Bill 31, which reaffirms that doctors may intervene if a pregnant woman faces a life-threatening physical condition and provides education for physicians to help them navigate the most difficult medical cases and save as many lives as possible.

Additional pro-life legislation passed this session includes Senate Bill 1233, which requires hospitals to provide parents with information about specialized care for their babies, and Senate Bill 1207, which mandates that high schools include education about adoption in their health classes. Lastly, Senate Bill 1388 was passed to ensure that state funds from the Thriving Texas Families program are allocated to pro-life organizations.

Parental Bill of Rights, Removing DEI Programs

Senate Bill 12 establishes a Parental Bill of Rights to give parents more control over their child’s public school education by removing DEI programs, banning any instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, guaranteeing parents full access to their child’s education records, and creating a clear appeals process for parental grievances.

Banning AI Child Pornography

Senate Bill 20 stops Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated child pornography by making it a state jail felony to possess or share obscene visual material that appears to show a child under 18, even if it’s a cartoon, animation, or AI-generated image. This issue has infiltrated our schools, and I am proud that the Texas Legislature has taken decisive action to protect our vulnerable Texans.

Stopping Explicit Materials in Libraries

Senate Bill 13 guards our children against inappropriate books in public schools and gives parents more say in the content of books available to their kids. The bill mandates that books in school libraries adhere to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) content standards for children, requires school districts to establish a Local School Library Advisory Council if requested by parents to make recommendations on content available in school libraries, and authorizes parents to review records of the materials their child checks out.

Increasing School Safety Funding

Senate Bill 260 is a historic school safety funding bill that ensures the safety and security of our children. The bill increases state spending on school safety by an additional $430 million for the next biennium, doubling both the per-student and per-campus school safety allotments.

Supreme Court Decision Upholds Texas Law

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) sustained a 2023 Texas law that requires age verification, via government-issued identification, in order to gain access to pornographic websites. The law was passed to protect children under 18 from being exposed to sexually explicit material. The law was contested by groups such as the Free Speech Coalition and others who claimed it violated their First Amendment right to free speech. This is a significant win for Texas and our nation, as other states may consider similar legislation in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Also last week, SCOTUS ruled in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, that states can direct Medicaid tax dollars away from abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood and instead into comprehensive health care entities to benefit low income citizens. Previously, Texas passed laws that ensure that tax dollars are not used to fund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. It is encouraging that SCOTUS is affirming our approach.

Happy 4^th of July!

As we approach the 4th of July this Friday, I want to publicly thank God for the tremendous blessings He has bestowed upon our nation. Many of you know that next year’s 4th of July will be a momentous occasion as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The year ahead will provide an incredible opportunity to reflect even more deeply and closely on the historical and religious foundations that inspired our Founding Fathers.

Again, I hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend.

Let me first begin by expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump, his national security team, and the brave members of our military who executed the weekend bombing mission against Iran’s nuclear facilities with excellence and precision. As the most dangerous and hostile nation in the Middle East, Iran must never, ever be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and I am thankful that President Trump took decisive action. Now that the pilots and personnel involved in the mission are home safely, we must pray for the 40,000 troops stationed in the Middle East as well as pray for lasting peace in the region.

New Laws Passed to Secure Our Borders, Texas Land, Citizens’ Safety, and Elections

We accomplished so many good and even historic things during the recently adjourned legislative session. Over the coming weeks, I will be highlighting some key bills in my newsletters. This week provides an update on important legislation aimed to improve border security, stop foreign adversaries from owning Texas land, reforming our bail system to stop violent criminals from being released, and further securing the integrity of our elections.
 
Border Security:

The return of President Trump to the White House has brought many benefits to the nation, but none may be so apparent as the dramatic decrease in illegal crossings at the southern border. From March of last year to now, illegal border crossings have decreased by 95%. While this news should be celebrated, we cannot solely rely on the federal government to enforce law and order.

This session, we passed SB 8, which requires all Texas counties with a county or private jail to enter into an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws under delegated federal authority. This bill also provides population-based grant funds to counties to assist with participation in this program.
 

Foreign Ownership of Land:

We took significant steps to end the purchase of Texas land by hostile foreign nations, their citizens and their entities. The passage of SB 17 prohibits the purchase of any agricultural land, commercial or industrial property, water rights or residential property by foreign adversaries.
 

 
Homeland Security:

The Legislature took significant steps to ensure that Texas can effectively respond to threats and disasters without relying solely on the federal government. SB 36 creates the Homeland Security Division within the Department of Public Safety to lead multi-agency efforts to enhance law enforcement and maintain the safety and well-being of Texas citizens. The Homeland Security Division will oversee the state’s border security operations and be responsible for developing a comprehensive homeland security plan, which includes planning for the physical protection of critical infrastructure in worst-case scenarios.
 

Bail Reform:

With horrific headlines in the news of violent offenders being released with minimal bail requirements, the Legislature passed SB 9 to ensure that prosecutors can appeal inadequate bail decisions made in cases involving the most heinous crimes and repeat felony offenders. This bill also provides that only elected judges, not appointed magistrates, may reduce the amount or conditions of bail. With voter approval, SJR 5 would amend the constitution to require a judge to deny bail to a person charged with the most violent crimes such as rape, murder or human trafficking when the state proves the defendant is a threat to public safety or is at risk of not showing up for trial. Additionally, SB 40 prohibits local governments from using taxpayer funds to support nonprofit organizations that pay bail for criminal defendants.

Only Citizens are Allowed to Vote:

SJR 37 – The Texas Legislature passed a measure to make abundantly clear that people who are not citizens of the United States are not allowed to vote in any election in this state. This measure will go before Texas voters for approval in November.

Todd Starnes Interview on June 18th

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to join Todd Starnes on his podcast and speak about my bill to once again display the Ten Commandments in our public schools. Starnes is a best-selling conservative author and journalist, who formerly worked at Fox News Channel. If you’d like to listen to the podcast, click HERE.
 

Annual Firearms Certification

Last week I was honored to speak to Parker and Palo Pinto County high school students who participate in the Weatherford Police Department’s Junior Police Academy as they spent a day at the pistol range. These students have an interest in a career in law enforcement, and the Junior Police Academy gives them hands-on experience towards that goal. I was also able to complete my annual retired police firearms qualification while there with the students.

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 89^th 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.