AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday morning, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a list of bills that he sees as Senate priorities for the 89th Legislative Session. Patrick said he would have 40 priority bills, but he identified 25 in his announcement. His list includes education savings accounts, investing in water supply, reforming bail, and incorporating traditional values into the public school system.
The lower the bill number, the higher priority it is for the Senate, and the more likely it is to be passed, according to Patrick.
At the top of Patrick’s list is Senate Bill 1, which outlines the Texas budget for the 2026-2027 biennium. Lawmakers are required to pass a budget bill. This proposal was released last Wednesday and it aligns closely with several of Patrick’s priority bills.
One priority is education savings accounts, a voucher-like program to help Texas parents pay for private school. Senate Bill 2 would create an ESA program. Budget proposals from both the Senate and House call for allocating $1 billion to fund the program.
The Senate Committee on Education voted to approve SB 2 after a lengthy public hearing on Tuesday. The bill could pass as soon as next week if Governor Greg Abbott declares it to be an emergency item. Emergency items are the only bills that can be passed within the first 60 days of the legislative session.
While both SB 1 and SB 2 are already being considered by lawmakers, the other bills on Patrick’s list have yet to be filed. His news release provided short descriptions of what each bill aims to accomplish.
Senate Bill 8 would require local law enforcement to assist in federal deportation efforts. This comes as Gov. Greg Abbott released an executive order Wednesday morning directing state agencies to assist with the Trump Administration’s border security initiatives. This includes investigating and detaining illegal immigrants, deploying border barriers, and sharing intelligence with federal agents.
The Senate is also investing in water, which is noted under Senate Bill 7, “Increasing Investments in Texas’ Water Supply.” Senator Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, Chair of the Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs, is working on introducing SJR 1, which would ask Texas voters to approve allocating $1 billion towards the Texas Water Fund each year. This is in response to water-deprived areas of the state that he warns could affect certain industries.
“Some of these companies need it yesterday,” said Perry. “So we’ll work through triage, get to where we need to be as fast as we need to be.”
As far as public education initiatives, Senate Bills 10 and 11 address religion in public schools, focusing on “Placing the Ten Commandments in School” and “Protecting the Freedom to Pray in School.” Senate Bill 12 would establish a Parental Bill of Rights in public education to allow parents to have meaningful participation in their child’s learning. Senate Bill 13 guards against “inappropriate books” in schools.
Other notable bills include Senate Bill 3 to ban THC in Texas and Senate Bill 5 to build DPRIT, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Senate Bill 18 calls for stopping “Drag Time Story Hour.” Senate Bill 22 would establish Texas as America’s Film Capital.
The full list of Patrick’s priorities are listed here. His news release says bills 26 through 40 will be coming soon.
Gov. Greg Abbott will share his legislative priorities during the 2025 State of the State address, which will air live across Texas on Sunday, Feb. 2 on 14 television markets and 15 television stations served by Nexstar including KXAN.
Here’s how you can watch Abbott’s address Sunday at 5 p.m. CT.
