Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Announces Top 25 Priority Senate Bills for 2025 Legislative Session
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday announced his top 25 priority Senate bills for the 2025 legislative session that began earlier this month. The list includes a mix of conservative Republican priorities, including some that are likely to align with Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items, as well as infrastructure and health care items that could garner bipartisan support.
Conservative Priorities
Topping the list were three previously announced items: the state budget (Senate Bill 1), school vouchers (SB 2), and a ban on the sale of THC products (SB 3).
Potential Controversy
One potential source of controversy with the Texas House will be Senate Bill 4, a proposal to lift the property tax homestead exemption to $140,000 for most homeowners and $150,000 for seniors. Some have argued that this might actually make it more difficult for homeowners in the long run, as property values will likely rise, and it may not actually save money in terms of property taxes.
Infrastructure and Health Care Items
Items that are likely to attract Democratic votes include bills to create a research institute to combat Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (SB 5), to improve electric grid reliability (SB 6), and to increase investments in water infrastructure (SB 7).
Potential Conflicts and Funding
University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said that some of Patrick’s top priorities could conflict with each other, in part because of cost. "School choice is going to be an expensive item, along with extending the homestead exemption, and the water supply issue," he said. "These’ll all take up a lot of time and a lot of money."
Funding Options
One possible way to pay for these measures could be dipping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. The fund is currently filled to its statutory limit. While Patrick advocates lifting the cap on the fund to build it up even further (SB 23), there’s a growing sentiment in the Legislature that now is the time to put it to use.
Alignment of Interests
Rottinghaus said this is a rare moment when Patrick’s interests align with not only Governor Greg Abbott’s but also House Speaker Dustin Burrows’. "There’s a lot of overlap here," he said, "and despite the fact that there will be some friction, and we’ll hear a lot about House and Senate challenges, it’s definitely the case that some of the big ticket items here like school choice, like increasing the amount of homestead exemption, the grid’s reliability, water supply, all of these things are elements that both the House and Senate and governor want to get done."
Red Meat Items for Republicans
Most of the rest of the agenda focuses on what Taylor terms "red meat" items for Republicans’ conservative base, including requiring local law enforcement to cooperate with the Trump Administration’s orders to round up and deport people who are in the U.S. without legal status (SB 8). A related bill (SB 16) is aimed at stopping non-citizens from voting – even though there is little evidence this has been a problem anywhere in the U.S.
Conclusion
Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate, has reserved the lowest 40 Senate bill numbers for his top priorities. He said he will soon announce his remaining 15 priority bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the top priority Senate bills announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick?
A: The top 25 priority Senate bills announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick include a mix of conservative Republican priorities and infrastructure and health care items that could garner bipartisan support.
Q: What are the potential sources of controversy in the top priority bills?
A: One potential source of controversy is Senate Bill 4, which proposes lifting the property tax homestead exemption to $140,000 for most homeowners and $150,000 for seniors.
Q: How might the top priority bills be funded?
A: One possible way to fund the top priority bills is by dipping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, which is currently filled to its statutory limit.
Q: What is the alignment of interests among Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Governor Greg Abbott, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows?
A: There is a rare alignment of interests among the three leaders, with Patrick’s priorities aligning with those of Abbott and Burrows.
