Capitol Update

Late last week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick released his first round of the 2026 interim charges to the Texas Senate. Patrick issued five charges for the Senate committees on Business and Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Finance, and State Affairs to study in preparation for the 90th Legislature. In his press release, Patrick stated, “These first 5 interim charges, released today, reflect issues that I am particularly focused on". Highlights include:

• Preventing Sharia Law in Texas
• Further Property Tax Cuts
  
• Securing Critical Infrastructure and Supply Chain Integrity
  
• Protecting Taxpayer Funds- Preventing Fraud and Abuse
  
• Promoting American and Texas First in Our Schools
  

Here is the complete list of interim charges.

Texas State Senators have until February 20th to submit their interim charge recommendations. While in the Texas House, Committee chairs have until February 9th to submit their recommendations to Speaker Burrows.

Over the weekend, the runoff election for Texas Senate District 9 between Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss took place to fill the seat vacated by former Senator Kelly Hancock. Rehmet upset Wambsganss in a solidly Republican district (R+17), shocking many, as a Democrat has not been elected to this seat since the 1980s. Rehmet and Wambsganss will likely face each other again in the November general election.

WHAT'S NEXT?
There are 29 days until election day, March 3rd, for the Texas primaries. Early voting is set to start in two weeks, 15 days, on February 17th.