Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has released the second round of interim charges for the Texas Senate to consider during the 89th interim. The first round of five charges was released on January 30, 2026, as detailed in this HillCo article. Patrick made the following statement upon issuing the charges:
“Today, I released new interim charges for Texas Senate committees to study in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislature, beginning January 2027. These interim charges reflect issues Texans have asked the Senate to study. There may be additional interim charges released for Senate committees to study in the coming months.
“The Senate and I will work energetically to advance the priorities of Texas’ conservative majority, including providing meaningful property tax relief via ‘Operation Double Nickel,’ reducing the age to freeze homestead property taxes from age 65 to 55, increasing the homestead exemption to $180,000 for under 55 homeowners and $240,000 for senior homeowners, and reining in local government budget growth, eliminating fraud and abuse in state government, strengthening the Texas power grid, and promoting a sweeping Texas-first agenda. When the 90th Regular Legislative Session begins in January 2027, the Texas Senate will move quickly to address these priorities, and many more.”
The second round of interim charges can be found here (PDF) and are copied below:
Business and Commerce Committee
- Assessing the State of the Texas Electric Grid: Monitor rulemaking related to Senate Bill 6, 89th Legislature, including large load interconnection rules, cost allocation of transmission costs, and the progress made toward increasing confidence in Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) load forecasts. Examine previous efforts to strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the Texas electric grid, including the Texas Energy Fund and post-Winter Storm Uri reforms at both the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT, including Senate Bills 2 and 3, 87th Legislature. Evaluate the competitiveness of the ERCOT market to determine whether further changes are necessary to support a robust energy-only market.
- Managing the Impacts of 765-kv Transmission Lines on Private Property Rights: Review the proposed 765-kv transmission line route plans to determine their impact on homes, businesses, and communities. Assess whether the current regulatory processes and timelines are sufficient in protecting landowner rights, including allowing for proper consideration of the effect of high voltage transmission lines on long-term land use, property values, and environmental factors. Recommend ways to improve transmission planning, permitting, and siting decisions for the infrastructure necessary to serve growth in the state.
- Modernizing Transmission and Enhancing Affordability: Consider proposals to improve transmission planning, construction, and ratemaking processes to protect everyday Texans from rising electricity costs. Evaluate ways to maximize existing transmission infrastructure and reduce congestion through the integration of residential distributed energy resources, energy storage, and other grid technologies. Review ERCOT’s proposed changes to its interconnection process to determine what guardrails should be enacted to increase transparency and accountability, and support continued investments in the state.
- Managing Data Center Growth: Study the adequacy of current statutory, regulatory, and infrastructure frameworks to meet the rapidly increasing demand from large electric loads, such as data centers. Recommend ways to balance economic development benefits of this growth against the impacts on landowners, private property rights, water infrastructure, and community integrity.
- Strengthening Regulatory Oversight and Access to Affordable Insurance for Texans: Evaluate the rising cost of property and casualty insurance in Texas. Consider the stability and competitiveness of the Texas insurance market, insurer participation, and coverage availability to meet consumer demand. Make recommendations to increase affordability, improve reporting to strengthen consumer protections, and support timely regulatory and legislative responses.
- Fostering Financial Technology Innovation: Evaluate the future of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency in the state of Texas and assess Texas’ coordination with federal rules. Assess how the state’s financial regulatory agencies respond to emerging financial technologies and business models, while prioritizing the protection of consumers. Examine the prevalence of virtual currency kiosks in Texas and make recommendations to support their use while 3 protecting vulnerable Texans from scams. Review the implementation of Senate Bill 21, 89th Legislature.
- Examining Broadband Development Office Strategic Planning: Review the Broadband Development Office’s (BDO) management of existing state and federal broadband development funds, as well as ongoing funding decisions under the various funding programs. Evaluate the BDO’s strategic plan for timely broadband deployment and make recommendations to improve the efficiency of BDO programs using existing resources.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 815 (89th Legislature), relating to the use of certain automated systems in, and certain adverse determinations made in connection with, the health benefit claims process;
- Senate Bill 1964 (89th Legislature), relating to the regulation and use of artificial intelligence systems and the management of data by governmental entities;
- House Bill 14 (89th Legislature), relating to support for the development of the nuclear energy industry; and
- House Bill 149 (89th Legislature), relating to regulation of the use of artificial intelligence systems in this state; providing civil penalties
- House Bill 150 (89th Legislature), relating to the establishment of the Texas Cyber Command and the transfer to it of certain powers and duties of the Department of Information Resources.
Criminal Justice Committee
- Eliminating Contraband in Prisons: Examine the issue of contraband entering Texas prisons. Identify contraband detection systems and make recommendations to leverage technology to combat prison contraband. Evaluate data linking contraband to inmate deaths and overdoses in prison units. Make recommendations to eliminate contraband in Texas prisons.
- Regulating the Role of Reserve Officers: Examine the reserve peace officer practices used in departments across Texas to assist with policing duties in their respective jurisdictions. Consider the number of reserve officers commissioned in jurisdictions across Texas relative to the policing needs of the community. Make recommendations to ensure reserve peace officers maximize their duty to public safety by first prioritizing the departments that issue their commissions.
- Addressing Juvenile Violence: Study the growing violence among juveniles both in communities and state and county secure facilities. Examine the effectiveness of juvenile diversion programs, sentencing laws, and whether determinate sentences for all “3G” violent juvenile offenders would better ensure public safety. Make recommendations to improve juvenile outcomes and protect the public.
- Protecting the Public From Violent Offenders Found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity: Examine the policies and procedures of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) regarding murderers, robbers, rapists, and other violent offenders found not guilty by reason of insanity and entrusted to HHSC for mental health treatment in lieu of prison. Evaluate the community supervision recommendations made by HHSC to the courts for those found not guilty by reason of insanity, and whether those recommendations prioritize public safety. Make recommendations to emphasize and ensure public safety for victims and the community.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 20 (89th Legislature), relating to the creation of the criminal offense of possession, promotion, or production of certain obscene visual material appearing to depict a child;
- Senate Bill 441 (89th Legislature), relating to criminal and civil liability related to sexually explicit media and artificial intimate visual material; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty;
- Senate Bill 1621 (89th Legislature), relating to prosecution and punishment of certain criminal offenses prohibiting sexually explicit visual material involving depictions of children, computer-generated children, or other persons; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; and
- House Bill 1443 (89th Legislature), relating to creating the criminal offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll.
Economic Development Committee
- Ensuring Local Hotel Occupancy Tax Accountability: Study the collection, reporting, and use of state and local hotel occupancy tax revenues, and review data and outcomes under the current legislative framework to assess whether it is operating as intended. Make recommendations to ensure the effectiveness of local incentives and safeguard long-term fiscal accountability.
- Strengthening Oversight of Project Finance Zones: Study the fiscal impact to the state of multiple project finance zones authorized within individual cities under Chapter 351, Tax Code, and evaluate whether requiring specific legislative approval for each newly proposed project finance zone would strengthen accountability and protect state revenues. Make recommendations to strengthen state oversight, prevent the proliferation of zones, and protect state tax revenues from unauthorized or inefficient use.
- Preparing the Texas Workforce for AI (Artificial Intelligence): Study the impact of AI on the Texas workforce and its implications for economic competitiveness. Evaluate strategies to enhance workforce resiliency, align educational pathways with evolving employer needs, and promote private-sector led innovation. Identify opportunities for upskilling and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies to maximize employment opportunities. Make recommendations to ensure the Texas labor market remains a national leader in growth and opportunity.
Education Committee
- Improving School Transformation Talent: Evaluate the existing access to and efficacy of experts in improving school academic performance. Develop suggestions to strengthen and expand the current leadership pipeline, including public school training, policies, and practices that accelerate academic progress.
- Shifting Enrollment, Right-Sizing: Despite the state’s rapid overall population growth, school age enrollment is declining – from 5.54 million to 5.47 million students in the last two years. Examine the impact of student enrollment patterns in Texas public schools. Identify strategies to maximize the efficient use of tax dollars by school districts while maintaining access to high-quality learning programs and student outcomes.
- Maximizing Instructional Time: Review the 200+ districts who utilize a 4- day school week or other hybrid models and the related learning loss in reading and math. Study the effect of academic schedules, in particular the decline of school days, and its impact on students and families. Create guidelines to support public schools and maximize student achievement.
- Reviewing Historic Pay Increases for Teachers: Review teacher pay increases passed by the Legislature over the last decade, including the historic pay increase in House Bill 2, 89th Legislature. Monitor the implementation of pay increases for teachers and the impacts on teacher incomes, including closing the rural pay gap.
- Celebrating the Successful Rollout of School Choice: Monitor the nation’s largest school choice launch in history and the ongoing implementation of Senate Bill 2, 89th Legislature, including: record-breaking demand with over 250,000 applications and enrollment by families giving greater flexibility to choose the best education for their child. Provide recommendations on how the Legislature can enhance and expand upon Texas’ historic and successful school choice program for families.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 12 (89th Legislature), relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools;
- Senate Bill 13 (89th Legislature), relating to a school district’s library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent’s child to library materials;
- Senate Bill 571 (89th Legislature), relating to the reporting and investigation of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense;
- House Bill 2 (89th Legislature), relating to public education and public school finance; and
- House Bill 6 (89th Legislature), relating to discipline management and access to telehealth mental health services in public.
Finance Committee
- Examining Crime Victims’ Compensation and Assistance Funds: Study the administration, funding sources, and distribution of state victims’ assistance and the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. Examine eligibility criteria, allocation processes, and distribution methods to victims, service providers, and related programs. Make recommendations to improve these programs in fulfilling their statutory purposes.
- Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: Review state agencies’ strategies to detect and mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse. Quantify the fiscal impact of financial impropriety on the state budget. Identify high-risk areas such as entitlement programs, contracted services, and technology contracts. Assess prevention and recovery efforts, including data analytics, reporting mechanisms, financial recoveries, and prosecutions. Make recommendations to strengthen oversight and better protect public funds.
- Data Center Investment and State Fiscal Effects: Since the passage of House Bill 1223, 83rd Legislature, in 2013, the state cost of providing a sales tax exemption to qualifying data centers has grown from an estimated $14.6 million for the 2014-15 biennium to a projected $3.3 billion for the 2028-29 biennium. Study the cost and consequences of the sales tax exemption provided to data centers under Tax Code Sections 151.359 and 151.3595. Make recommendations providing safeguards to ensure that Texans benefit from data center investment.
- Higher Education Transparency: Examine the current financial reporting and disclosure practices of public institutions of higher education. Evaluate the adequacy of existing transparency standards regarding the use of state appropriations, tuition revenue, and designated funds. Assess the frequency and scope of state audits and study the feasibility of requiring more frequent, comprehensive audits to ensure fiscal accountability. Make recommendations to strengthen reporting requirements, increase public access to institutional financial data, and provide greater oversight to ensure the efficient and transparent use of taxpayer and student funds.
- Rural Fire Protection Funding: Monitor the implementation of appropriations provided by the 89th Legislature for the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. Examine the distribution of grants for firefighting equipment, training, and protective clothing. Evaluate the impact of the increased funding on reducing the grant application backlog and examine whether the allocation of funds to high-risk wildfire areas is effectively enhancing community safety. Make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete the delivery of these critical resources to rural fire departments.
- Evaluating Transportation Resources: Study current transportation funding from all sources and the long-term needs of Texas drivers. Assess the implementation of funding appropriated by the 89th Legislature and make recommendations to ensure the effective and efficient use of transportation funding.
Health and Human Services Committee
- Addressing Societal Impacts of THC Product Consumption: Study the impact of THC on increased health care costs, mental health emergency detentions, and the risk of being diagnosed with a THC-induced psychotic disorder. Make recommendations to decrease health care and criminal justice costs.
- Strengthening Crisis Related Mental Health and Homelessness Services: Determine the state’s authority and procedures for providing public mental health services and the intersection of those services with homelessness and addiction. Evaluate the effectiveness, consistency, and outcomes of competency restoration for criminally charged individuals awaiting trial, as well as processes for civil in-patient and out-patient commitments. Make recommendations to prioritize the most acute populations for treatment in order to reduce public safety threats.
- Rising Health Care and Insurance Costs: Examine the drivers of rising health care costs in Texas. Consider whether certain providers and models for health care services, including, but not limited to, Pharmacy Benefit Managers and health care facility fees, have resulted in business practices that are contributing to rising health care costs and insurance premiums. Identify ways to lower the cost of health care and increase market flexibility, drawing on additional product offerings like Health Savings Accounts and new flexible plans.
- Combating the Exploitation of Surrogacy: Examine the unethical and foreign interests exploiting the surrogacy and fertility industries in Texas. Make recommendations to end this exploitation and related harm to patients and children.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Mental health programs and services provided through the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium;
- The Department of Family and Protective Services Abuse and Neglect Central Registry;
- Senate Bill 25 (89th Legislature), relating to health and nutrition standards to promote healthy living, including requirements for food labeling, primary and secondary education, higher education, and continuing education for certain health care professionals; authorizing a civil penalty;
- Senate Bill 331 (89th Legislature), relating to the disclosure of health care cost information by certain health care facilities; imposing an administrative penalty;
- Senate Bill 1236 (89th Legislature), relating to the relationship between pharmacists or pharmacies and health benefit plan issuers or pharmacy benefit managers;
- Senate Bill 1 (89th Legislature, Second Called Session), relating to campground and youth camp safety;
- House Bill 3595 (89th Legislature), relating to an emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan, including temperature regulation, for assisted living facility residents during an emergency; providing penalties; and
- Other legislation related to health care costs
Higher Education Committee
- Public Junior College State Finance Program: Review the implementation of the community college funding model. Make recommendations for any structural changes to the model, while continuing to ensure a dynamic structure that aligns student outcomes with workforce preparation and demands.
- Funding the Permanent University Fund and the Texas University Fund: Review the distribution methodology for the Permanent University Fund and the Texas University Fund. Analyze the allocation structure and uses for the Permanent University Fund for the University of Texas and Texas A&M University Systems, with particular focus on how the fund is allocated between the flagship campuses and other system institutions. Explore the implementation and distribution of the Texas University Fund, as new institutions gain eligibility and the fund’s corpus grows, ensuring stability and predictability for all participating institutions. Make recommendations for any needed reforms.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education K-16 passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following: o Senate Bill 37 (89th Legislature), relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers, and duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman; and o House Bill 127 (89th Legislature), relating to measures to protect institutions of higher education from foreign adversaries and to the prosecution of the criminal offense of theft of trade secrets; increasing a criminal penalty.
Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security
- Keeping Texas’ Skies Safe: Examine the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly known as drones, as it relates to public safety and study current partnerships with the United States government and Mexico that aid Texas agencies in defending against and disabling hostile drones. Make recommendations to determine which state agencies would best assist the federal government in drone mitigation; identify necessary prohibitions that protect critical infrastructure and public events; and strengthen penalties that close any gaps when protecting Texas’ skies.
- Securing Texas Land Ports of Entry: Study security measures at Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) that connect Texas and Mexico and review the commercial vehicle inspection capacity of existing LPOEs. Review the LPOEs projected to open to commercial traffic, as well as proposed projects that could establish future LPOEs. Consider the establishment of a uniform inspection requirement at all current and future LPOEs. Determine the feasibility of providing inspections on southbound commercial traffic at all LPOEs. Make recommendations to standardize state procedures that secure Texas communities and LPOEs.
- Combating Criminal Activities on Oversize and Overweight Routes: Evaluate the movement of oversize and/or overweight commercial vehicles transporting hazardous materials throughout the Texas Border region. Review past accidents related to overweight fuel trucks and determine their overall impact on public safety, both on and off roadways. Make recommendations to deter transportation companies from overloading fuel trucks and to enhance public safety along oversize and overweight routes in Texas.
- Shoring Up the Integrity of Export Fuel: Explore the current structure of export fuel in Texas and follow its path from a fuel rack or terminal to delivery. Consider the impact on state revenue of entities that falsely alter or modify the content of a load of fuel designated for export. Review the tactics utilized in the field when fuel transporters engage in tax evasion and money laundering, such as falsifying shipping documents. Make recommendations to close statutory loopholes and prohibit the transloading or blending of export fuel.
- Combating Public Corruption Tied to Fuel Crimes: Examine the impact of public corruption related to stolen and adulterated fuel loads in Texas. Consider the advantages of adding the Texas Border Prosecution Unit (BPU) to the definition of “prosecuting attorney” under the Texas Public Integrity Unit so they can assist in prosecuting and eliminating public corruption. Make recommendations to end public corruption connected to stolen or laundered fuel and other transnational crimes.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 36 (89th Legislature), relating to the homeland security activities of certain entities, including the establishment and operations of the Homeland Security Division in the Department of Public Safety.
Local Government Committee
- Cutting Property Taxes: Examine Texas property taxes, focusing on homeowners’ school property taxes. Make recommendations to cut Texans’ property taxes by increasing the homestead exemption for all homesteads. Determine the savings for homestead owners attributable to lowering the age of eligibility for the senior homestead exemption and senior tax ceiling from 65 to 55. Additionally, evaluate options to further reduce property taxes for new homeowners.
- Examining the Effect of Increasing the Homestead Exemption: Review and report on the effects of Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23, 89th Legislature, Senate Bill 2, 88th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, Senate Bill 1, 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, Senate Bill 2, 86th Legislature, and Senate Bill 1, 84th Legislature, which in combination have increased the homeowners’ school tax exemption from $15,000 to $140,000 for those under the age of 65, and from $25,000 to $200,000 for those 65 and older. Identify the percentage of Texas homeowners that no longer pay school property taxes due to these efforts.
- Removing Barriers to Housing Affordability: Report on the implementation of Senate Bill 15, Senate Bill 840, and Senate Bill 2477, 89th Legislature, and Senate Bill 2038, 88th Legislature. Make recommendations to strengthen property rights as the cornerstone of Texas housing affordability.
- Holding Local Government Fees Accountable: Examine the collection, use, and oversight of fees imposed by local governments, including but not limited to utility connection charges, permit and inspection fees, and drainage or stormwater improvement fees. Evaluate whether these fees are subject to adequate financial transparency requirements and whether independent audits should be required. Make necessary recommendations to enhance accountability and ensure fee revenues are used solely for their intended public purposes.
- Ensuring Transparency in Appraisal District Funding: Study the governance, budgeting authority, and cost allocation practices of county appraisal districts. Examine the fiscal impact of appraisal district costs on taxing entities. Evaluate whether additional guardrails are warranted.
Natural Resources Committee
- Protecting Texas from Wildfires: Study the state’s wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies. Evaluate the effectiveness of fuel management practices, including prescribed burns and mechanical thinning, to reduce fuel loading on public and private lands. Assess the vulnerability of utility infrastructure in high-risk areas and the adequacy of early warning systems. Make recommendations to enhance state and local coordination and improve the long-term resiliency of Texas communities against catastrophic wildfires.
- Ensuring Responsible Renewable Energy Decommissioning: Study the lifecycle and decommissioning of wind and solar facilities. Evaluate the adequacy of current financial assurance requirements to ensure site remediation and protect landowners from decommissioning costs. Examine the environmental impacts of disposal and recycling for wind turbine blades and solar modules, specifically addressing concerns regarding landfilling, hazardous material leaching, and component toxicity. Make recommendations to strengthen state oversight, ensuring responsible land restoration and the proper management of decommissioned materials.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 494 (89th Legislature), relating to the establishment of a theft of petroleum products task force;
- Senate Bill 1145 (89th Legislature), relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations;
- Senate Bill 1806 (89th Legislature), relating to the inspection, purchase, sale, possession, storage, transportation, and disposal of petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, and oil and gas waste; creating criminal offenses and increasing the punishment for an existing criminal offense;
- House Bills 48 (89th Legislature), relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Department of Public Safety; and
- House Bill 49 (89th Legislature), relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Select Committee on Religious Liberty
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 10 (89th Legislature), relating to the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms; and
- Senate Bill 11 (89th Legislature), relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools
State Affairs Committee
- Maintaining Election Security: Stu Study ways to enhance election security and guarantee poll watcher access. Further evaluate county election administration and local election officials and any recent attempts to circumvent state law. Make recommendations to ensure the security and integrity of Texas elections.
- Ensuring Efficiency in Texas Elections: Study different methods counties employ regarding the marking and counting of ballots. Review the designation of polling locations for a specific political party during primary elections. Make recommendations to ensure elections are conducted efficiently and securely.
- Protecting the Unborn: Study the continued threat posed by abortion pills unlawfully shipped to Texas. Monitor implementation of House Bill 7, 89th Legislature, Second Called Session, and make recommendations to further protect women and children in Texas.
- Closing Gambling Loopholes: Study the sudden inundation of prediction market gambling and the exploitation of federal law to circumvent Texas gambling prohibitions by allowing users to place bets on the outcome of elections and other events. Examine the relationship between federally regulated derivative markets and state-prohibited gambling. Make recommendations to ensure the integrity of Texas elections and Texas sports.
- Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Texans: Study the practice of banks and insurance companies closing, restricting, or denying services to people, lawful businesses, and entire industries based on political, religious, and other nonfinancial factors. Make recommendations to ensure all Texans have access to fair banking.
- Protecting the Integrity of the Judiciary: Study attempts by public advocacy groups to improperly influence the judiciary with biased informational seminars. Identify entities attempting to influence judges with training based on skewed information. Make recommendations to ensure Texas judges remain fair and impartial and are not influenced or trained by nefarious individuals attempting to improperly impact the outcome of cases.
- Ensuring Consumer Protection in Alcohol Sales: Study the intentional violation of Texas alcohol laws by retailers who sell alcohol distilled under their own private labels. Make recommendations to ensure Texas alcohol laws continue to protect Texas consumers under the three tier system.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on State Affairs passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 2337 (89th Legislature), relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services; and
- Senate Bill 3070 (89th Legislature), relating to the abolishment of the Texas Lottery Commission and the transfer of the administration of the state lottery and the licensing and regulation of charitable bingo to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation; creating criminal offenses.
Transportation Committee
- Prioritizing Public Safety at Rail-Grade Crossings: Examine the Texas Department of Transportation’s implementation of increased funding for railgrade separation projects. Examine how the agency is using these new resources to prioritize projects for mobility and safety concerns. Make recommendations to ensure that expanded state investments deliver measurable improvements in freight movement and community safety.
- Studying the Deployment of Autonomous Vehicle Technology: Study the deployment of autonomous vehicle technology as authorized by SB 2807, (89th Session), including rule-making adopted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Quantify the impact on traffic-related collisions. Make recommendations to ensure that the continued deployment of autonomous vehicles prioritizes public safety and aligns with the evolving technological landscape on Texas roads.
- Strengthening Commercial Driver License Standards and Oversight: Examine the issuance of Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL) in Texas. Identify opportunities to strengthen safety standards of third-party CDL training schools and testing facilities, such as unannounced or undercover audits. Review program standards of English-proficiency throughout the CDL program for all commercial drivers in Texas, regardless of destination. Examine law enforcement policies relating to roadside inspections, including how an officer verifies the validity of a CDL and associated documents. Make recommendations to bolster the integrity of third party providers, to ensure English-proficiency among Texas CDL holders, and to support public safety through enforcement.
Select Committee on Veteran Affairs
- Protecting the Integrity of Department of Veteran Affairs Claims: Study and evaluate the effectiveness of Texas’ veteran claims-assistance infrastructure and the impact of the State Strike Force. Assess statewide vulnerabilities to deceptive claims-assistance practices and identify predatory practices used against veterans or their families. Make recommendations to further strengthen claims assistance and safeguard Texas veterans from unaccredited or predatory actors/agents.
- Strengthening the Military-to-Civilian Transition: Explore the resources made available to Texans who exit military service. Review the federal Veteran Administration’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) offered to service members and their families and identify opportunities in Texas that could be assisted by the Texas Military Veteran Peer Network. Make recommendations within existing resources to support the transition from military to civilian careers, recognizing the impact of the shift from command-centered life to full autonomy.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation passed by the 89th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 1814 (89th Legislature), relating to the transfer of functions relating to certain veteran mental health programs and plans to the Texas Veterans Commission; and
- House Bill 114 (89th Legislature), relating to creation and maintenance of an electronic database to provide information to certain members of the United States armed forces regarding the resources and benefits provided to veterans.
Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee
- Assessing the Water Demands of Energy-Intensive Technologies: Examine the current water consumption rates for high-consumption cooling technologies, including data centers. Make recommendations to improve transparency for local water providers and ensure industrial growth does not compromise the affordability of water for Texas residents and agricultural producers.
- Safeguarding the Texas Livestock Industry: Examine the state’s preparedness and response strategies regarding the New World Screwworm (NWS). Evaluate the effectiveness of current surveillance, monitoring, and control efforts by the Texas Animal Health Commission and partner agencies to prevent reintroduction of NWS into Texas. Make recommendations to strengthen biosecurity protocols, improve coordination with federal and international partners, and ensure the long-term protection of the Texas livestock industry and wildlife populations.
- Prioritizing Utility Revenue for Infrastructure Maintenance: Study the practice of large municipalities transferring revenue from water and wastewater utilities to general funds. Assess the impact of such transfers on delays in projects, infrastructure maintenance backlogs, and water loss mitigation. Make recommendations to limit the percentage of utility revenue available for transfer and ensure ratepayer funds are dedicated exclusively to the sustainability and security of Texas water systems.
- Evaluating Desalination Viability and Regulatory Efficiency: Inventory existing facilities and review the permitting framework across relevant state agencies to improve efficiency. Assess the practicality of desalination in high-feasibility regions and identify opportunities for local-level implementation. Make recommendations to streamline the regulatory process.
