The latest Dan Patrick news from The Texas Tribune.
Lawmakers begin work today for their biennial legislative session. They’ll debate over the state budget, school issues, border security and property taxes, among other issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b2ecfec00dbb4fbe46258d9e2466547e/Capitol%20Action%20SP%20TT%2007.jpg)
Republicans are backing legislation targeting gender-affirming care for children, classroom lessons about sexuality and drag shows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d3d5d0ecefc98f16c347cd78e11c5974/0820%20ATX%20Pride%20Parade%20AS%20TT%2005.jpg)
The move to take news reporters off the Senate floor was implemented in 2021 as a COVID-19 precaution, but an official said Friday the measure would continue in the upcoming session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/79e590b6dee93ac23d642d09bf635974/Senate%20Floor%20SP%20TT%2001.jpg)
The dueling approaches are coming into focus as lawmakers prepare to return to Austin for the session which begins Jan. 10. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1c4fa786260990976aea0942d42fd980/Abbott_Patrick_Bonnen_Joint_Presser_4.jpg)
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Karen about property taxes and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0b177a4291615e7443707648d33af695/TribCast%20Dec%202.jpg)
Texas homeowners have some of the highest property tax bills in the nation, a byproduct of the state’s reliance on such taxes to help pay for public schools and the state’s lack of an income tax. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b27a728f3a0fbc20fb1697a34a76524/Capitol%20File%20Jan%202022%20JV%20TT%2023)
Patrick, who presides over the Senate and wields tremendous power over legislation, said lawmakers have an “extraordinary opportunity” to shape the future of Texas at the start of the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 10. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9de83ac4c56b8a6b911727fa403a0485/Redo%201130%20Patrick%20Presser%20JM%20TT%2001.jpg)
Adam Hinojosa finished 659 votes behind Democrat Morgan LaMantia in a race that garnered 175,415 total votes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/75b061329b3d90aba1fbf37b1da8e122/Hinojosa%20and%20LaMantia%20TT.jpg)
Patrick will get another four years leading the Texas Senate, one of the state’s most powerful positions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5ac0afa9e0bb6c0eb3c4b7a21d81579f/Patrick%20Presser%20on%20Tenure%20JV%20TT%2018.jpg)
Follow The Texas Tribune’s coverage of midterm election results for governor, attorney general, U.S. House and the Texas Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8da75ef24cbd58044f3521eb4d259fc/midterm-leadart-v1.png)
Republicans may be waiting to vote on Election Day after former President Donald Trump pushed voting in person on Nov. 8 at a rally in South Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6878fc9b342c8bd3ba650a01133415cf/UT%20Austin%20Early%20Voting%20AS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Trump rally attendees said they were basing their midterm votes on issues such as the economy and the border and were hopeful Trump would run for president again. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/96fd2d0c5403ae10e7602a1d7d4fe7b0/Trump%20Rally%20Robstown%20AP%20TT%2004.jpg)
The 11-point margin is one of the wider advantages Abbott has registered among likely voters in a public survey yet. Abbott had a smaller 5-point advantage in the last UT poll, which was done in August, though that was among registered voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b35f3ff159e43edc5c23020f5effdc1a/Beto%20at%20Texas%20State%20EH%20TT%2013.jpg)
Patrick’s campaign strategy in rural Texas may suggest he’s trying to shore up the party’s most reliable base of voters in an area that both Beto O’Rourke and Mike Collier have spent considerable resources to win over this election cycle. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/01311bb8cee0196b6cff9410fd2af4f8/Patrick%20Bus%20Tour%20TT%2003.jpg)
New mandatory sentences could be a big policy shift for Texas. But Patrick isn’t providing any details of his one-sentence proposal so it’s hard to gauge its significance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/653efa0837a69ecbcb01524dd7fa1b2b/Patrick%20Presser%20on%20Tenure%20JV%2015.jpg)
The Texas Tribune reviewed the 15-page document, which will be handed out to new drivers, and asked historians to comment on how accurately and thoroughly it chronicles the state’s history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f9f4e99273059936b29637a7d6155d4a/Texas%20File%20MG%20TT%2008.jpg)
For example, members of the Railroad Commission don’t deal with railroads. Here’s what the many officials elected statewide do with the power voters give them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d1e98fb8f28a8457df679192b4fa976b/2022Elections-glossary-leadart-v1.png)
In his second attempt to oust the incumbent, Collier is actively courting Republican voters who are turned off by the Legislature’s hard-right turn in recent years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a408cdf3a0c4ef77593b16bca158cd4c/Mike%20Coller%20Event%20AG%20TT%2021.jpg)
The endorsement comes after Patrick’s Democratic opponent, Mike Collier, received endorsements from two Republicans, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and state Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc4bb406cd96a3aa2f1c9a2c0ad65bb9/Eddie%20Lucio%20Jr%20JF%20TT.JPG)
Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke hope to define the election on issues viewed as favorable to their own parties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0b1181d499916bb5324afbbbf97fcb18/DTX%20Early%20Voting%20Feb%2025%20ST%20TT%2010.jpg)