That’s a Wrap!

I am proud of the work done by the Texas Senate during the past four legislative sessions. We have continued to move boldly to protect life, support the Second Amendment, invest more money in border security than any lieutenant governor in history, continue to increase teacher pay, provide a 13th check for retired teachers for the second time, protect the rights of students and parents in education, ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory, and expand access to healthcare.

As the Biden, Pelosi, Schumer axis sets its sights on Texas, I renew my commitment to the people of Texas to fight to the end. I look forward to the 2022 elections, traveling the state, and sharing everything great about Texas with my fellow citizens.

2021 was truly one for the record books. Here are some of the key moments and highlights from this year.

2021

january
January 12
Gaveled in the 87th Session of the Texas Senate at the Texas Capitol.
February
February 22
Traveled the state – to Houston, Abilene, Dallas, Lubbock and Midland – for a series of press conferences regarding Texas’ response to the winter storm and how we’re going to fix the power grid issues to ensure outages are prevented in the future.
February 23
These priorities address issues that are critical to Texans. They are designed to protect taxpayers and the Texas economy as it rebuilds following the pandemic and to secure Texas’ future, including addressing power failures in the winter storm. As always, the legislation also includes continued support for life, liberty and conservative Texas values.
February 25
The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce begin hearings to investigate the statewide power outages.
March
March 1

Both the Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chair and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) CEO said they were prepared the day before the storm hit in full force, but obviously, they were not. They hoped for the best instead of planning for the worst.

March 8

Called on the Texas PUC and ERCOT to correct the emergency pricing error that continued after the power shortage had ended and the major threat to the Texas grid had passed.

March 9

Gov. Abbott makes correcting ERCOT’s two pricing errors an emergency item for the 87th Session. This is the right thing to do and one important step taken to fix what went wrong in the storm.

March 11
There was a total contradiction from the PUC in testimony at the House State Affairs Committee and Senate Committee on Jurisprudence. It was clear from ERCOT’s own Independent Market Monitor (IMM) that at least a $5B mistake was made.
March 15
The Texas Senate passes SB 2142, calling on the PUC to order ERCOT to correct billions in pricing errors that occurred during Winter Storm Uri.
March 18
Regarding corrective actions to the price of wholesale power and ancillary services sold in the ERCOT market during the 2021 winter storm.
March 29
This bill includes substantive reforms of the electric grid that will revolutionize Texas’ prevention and preparation strategies for any energy emergencies we encounter going forward.
March 30
SB 8 will prohibit a physician from performing an abortion if the unborn child has a detectable heartbeat, and SB 9 will immediately outlaw abortion in Texas if Roe v. Wade is overturned or a new law is passed prohibiting abortion at the federal level. Texas is a pro-life state and these bills reflect our commitment to protecting innocent life.
March 31
Broadband is essential to bridge the digital divide across our state, grow our thriving economy and ensure that Texas remains the best place to live, work and raise a family. SB 5 creates a State Broadband Development Office through the University of Texas that will create and adopt a state broadband plan within the next year.
March 31

Ensures that police departments in Texas have complete information about the law
enforcement officers who join their force.

March 31

SB 30 allows property owners to remove racist language from their deeds by filling out a form and filing it with their county clerk. All 31 senators authored SB 30, and the bill passed unanimously.

April
April 1

Maintaining the integrity of our elections is vital to preserving public trust so our democracy can flourish.
SB 7 will strengthen the public’s faith in our electoral process and ensure that every Texan knows that
when they cast their ballot, their vote is secure.

April 1
Viewpoint discrimination should not be allowed by any business and SB 12 will make sure it is not tolerated on social media platforms.
April 6

Like every budget passed by the Senate since I have been lieutenant governor, SB 1 is within the spending limit set by the Texas Constitution, and, once again, the growth rate does not exceed population times inflation. SB 1 will help ensure that the economic forecast for Texas will continue to be bright.

April 8
The passage of SB 4 will ensure Texans can count on hearing the Star Spangled Banner at major sports events throughout the state that are played in venues that taxpayers support. We must always remember that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.
April 8
SB 6 will ensure that businesses that followed pandemic guidelines and acted in good faith will not be victimized by predatory lawsuits.
April 12
Designed to safeguard our elections, SB 1234 requires that a paper record be created of every ballot that is cast and SB 598 puts a system in place to audit ballots in coming elections so that the public can be confident about the accuracy of a vote tally.
April 13
SB 14 will make sure that Texas businesses can continue to thrive without being unnecessarily hampered at any level. This legislation will help ensure that Texas businesses can continue to grow, expand and create jobs so every Texan can prosper.
April 13
SB 23 makes it clear that Texans do not support defunding the police. It will require local governments to secure voter approval before passing a budget that reduces or reallocates funding originally dedicated to law enforcement.
April 14
April 14
Every Texan has the right to self-defense and SB 20 makes it clear that Texans retain their constitutional rights when they travel and use hotel rooms.
April 14

Mandates that all ERCOT board members reside in Texas and that the CEO of ERCOT and the five unaffiliated members of the board be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

April 14

In some Texas cities, repeat and violent offenders are being allowed to roam free on personal recognizance or very low bail, putting our communities and law enforcement at risk. SB 21 will stop that.

April 15

Texas voters simply do not want the local officials they have elected to represent them, spending their tax dollars on hired-gun lobbyists who often have no connection to their community and may be working against their interests.

April 15

Ensures that men and boys will not be allowed to compete against women and girls in individual and team sports or for sports scholarships.

April 15
SB 28 will make sure that parents can continue to choose a charter school if it best fits their child’s needs.
April 15

During emergencies or disasters, Texans should not have to worry about the infringement of their Second Amendment rights. When Second Amendment businesses are under threat, we know that Texans’ Second Amendment rights are also under threat.

April 15
If Wall Street turns their back on Texas and our thriving oil and gas industry, then Texas will not do business with Wall Street.
April 15
SB 19 ensures that the state of Texas will no longer do business with companies that discriminate against Second Amendment businesses.
April 16

Despite the unprecedented time challenges of the session including the pandemic and the winter storm, 25 conservative legislative priorities have already passed the Texas Senate by this time!

April 16

Traveled to San Antonio to unveil the new Plaza exhibit, which replicates a significant moment for the 1836 Alamo fort — featuring the cannon station where an “18-pounder” was fired at the start of the 13-day siege. A big day for Texas and America!

April 21

SB 22 will ensure that those first responders who were disabled or lost their lives to COVID-19 are
treated as line-of-duty disabilities or deaths.

April 28

Makes certain that critical race philosophies, including the debunked 1619 founding myth, are removed from our school curriculums statewide.

May
May 3
During Winter Storm Uri, ERCOT deployed the $9,000 per megawatt hour system-wide energy price cap, resulting in exorbitant energy costs for some and windfall profits for others. The Texas Senate officially called on the PUC to significantly lower the sky-high pricing cap with Senate Resolution 342.
May 5

HB 1927 – the Constitutional Carry Bill, affirms every Texan’s right to self-defense, and our state’s strong
support for our Second Amendment right to bear arms.

May 10
President Donald Trump said, “Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is a great fighter for the people of Texas. He has stood up for Life, Liberty, the Second Amendment, Border Security, our Military and our Vets, and our God-given Freedoms. He has governed by conservative principles of LOW TAXES and careful spending, always doing what is best for his great State and for America. Texans should re-elect him! He is outstanding and has my Complete and Total Endorsement!
May 19

The Heartbeat Bill is signed into law, making it illegal for an abortion to be performed after a child’s heartbeat is detected in the womb. This bill will save thousands of lives… a historic day in Texas!

May 30

After Democrats abandoned their duties and walked out of the Texas House, I asked Gov. Abbott to call a June Special Session to pass SB 29 to save girls sports, SB 10 to end taxpayer funded lobbying, SB 12 to stop social media censorship, and other key legislation. The Texas House killed these conservative bills that a majority of Texans in both parties support.

May 31
Gaveled out the 87th Legislative Session, sine die
June
June 10

Democrats are bragging again that they are going to turn Texas blue and I am not about to let that happen. 

June 14
Announced my support for Governor Abbott’s proposal to continue building a wall along the Texas-Mexico border.
June 16
Joined Governor Abbott and other state leaders in Austin for a press conference regarding Texas’ plan to build the wall, secure the border, and keep Texas and America safe. Texas took a stand by authorizing the construction of a border wall with what I believe is the most consequential letter, document, or resolution signed by any governor in Texas history.
June 17

Joined Gov. Abbott for the signing of HB 1927 – Constitutional Carry, and other Second Amendment bills!

June 29
On the weekend of Feb 13-14, Winter Storm Uri hit Texas with ice, snow and freezing temperatures seldom experienced in Texas. The storm stretched our power grid beyond its limits and generators failed to deliver the power needed. The Legislature made good progress this session in fixing the problem, but there is more important work to be done. The bottom line is that Texas needs more power and we need it now.
June 30
It was like old times in the Rio Grande Valley when President Trump visited the southern border. President Trump was a good friend to Texas and did so much to secure the border – in contrast to what we are seeing from Biden now with the 400% increase in illegal border crossings since he became President
July
July 8

Gaveled in the Texas Senate, and ready to pass all of the legislation on Governor Abbott’s Special Session call, starting with SB 1 — Election Integrity.

July 9
Kicked off CPAC 2021: America Uncanceled, the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world. How fitting that it was held in Texas, as Texas is what America wants to be!
July 12

In an attempt to stop SB 1 – the Election Integrity Bill, House Democrats fly off to D.C., breaking House quorum.

July 15
One reason that Democrats are able to break the quorum in Texas so easily simply by walking out is that Texas requires that two-thirds of all lawmakers be present in order to conduct business – that is a very high bar. Most states only require a simple majority. I asked Gov. Abbott to add changing the quorum to a simple majority to his next special session call.

July 16

In just one week, the Texas Senate passes the entire list of legislation Gov. Abbott put on the special session call. Although the Texas House Democrats busted their quorum when they fled to Washington, D.C., we still had a quorum in the Texas Senate to pass this key legislation. Unfortunately, a quorum was not
maintained in the Texas House of Representatives and all of the bills died.

Here are the bills the Texas Senate passed (again):

● Senate Bill 1: Election Integrity

● Senate Bill 2: Fair Sports for Women and Girls


● Senate Bill 3: Banning Critical Race Theory in our Schools


● Senate Bill 4: Banning the Sale of Abortion-Inducing Drugs


● Senate Bill 5: Stopping Social Media Censorship


● Senate Bill 6: Bail Reform


● Senate Bill 7: 13th Check for Retired Teachers


● Senate Bills 8 and 12: Property Tax Reform


● Senate Bill 72 (formerly Senate Bill 9): Increasing Family Violence Prevention

July 21

I set the record straight on SB 1, the Election Integrity Bill, with the author, Sen. Bryan Hughes, during a press conference at the Texas Capitol.

August
August 6

Gov. Abbott promptly calls the legislature back for a second special session, and the Texas Senate gets to work immediately.

August 9
August 19
August 30
August 31
This landmark legislation is very similar to our original SB 7 we passed back in April. We’ve succeeded in our goal: making it easier to vote and harder to cheat.
September
September 1
These tremendous victories were the result of countless hours of teamwork and collaboration by the Texas Senate!
September 1
The Texas Senate approves an additional $1.8 billion to further secure our border because the federal government under President Biden is not doing their job.
September 2
I am very proud to say that the Texas Senate completed one of the greatest weeks for Republican legislation in Texas, and perhaps, American history. We passed some of the strongest voter security, pro-life, Second Amendment, and pro-business bills in the country. A huge victory for all of Texas.
September 7
The Election Integrity Bill is signed into law. SB 1 ensures that every Texan can trust the outcome of every election in the Lone Star State. By making it easy to vote and hard to cheat, we have dramatically improved elections across Texas.
September 8
September brings Texans the start of hunting season, college football and campaign season. I was proud to kick things off with four tremendous endorsements from four friends, each of whom I truly admire.
September 15
“There is much to do over the next 30-day special session. As we have through the first two Special Sessions, the Texas Senate stands ready to get to work, fulfilling our obligations to the taxpayers & all the people of Texas.”
September 17

Joined Gov. Abbott to sign $1.8 billion of additional border security funding into law.

September 20
The Texas Senate is committed to passing fair and legal redistricting maps, protecting womens' and girls’ sports and providing lasting property tax relief for Texans.
September 20

President Biden has allowed our southern border to collapse into total disarray. I went to the Del Rio bridge for a firsthand look at this illegal immigration disaster, which continues to spiral out of control.

September 22

Women have fought for equality in sports for decades, and they have achieved enormous success along the way. In Texas, we refuse to deny any woman or girl the right to compete on a level playing field and to be the best in her sport.

September 23

I joined Governor Abbott as he signed the Damon Allen Act, SB 6, into law at the Capitol. This bill prohibits violent or repeat offenders from being released on personal bond and mandates judges to consider the offender's criminal history before setting bail.

September 24

SB 1, passed by the Senate 30-1, guarantees $2 billion in property tax relief, and that amount could rise to a total of $4 billion for the current biennium if our surplus revenues grow.

October 19
The Third Special Session adjourned late Monday night. We made monumental strides in delivering for the people of Texas. The bills passed serve as a testament to our steadfast commitment to our conservative values and doing what is right – even in the toughest of times. It adds to an already historic regular session that ended in May.
October 24

I, along with Senator Donna Campbell, was honored to receive the Trailblazer Award from the American Football Coaches Association and National Football League at the Green Bay Packers game for our work protecting missing children by providing parents no-ink fingerprint kits to every student K through 7th in Texas. This can be the difference between safe, speedy return and tragedy. Missing children are a national crisis, and we must use all available resources to keep our little ones safe.

November
November 2

I was in Cypress casting my ballot on Texas’ Constitutional Amendments!

November 4
I attended the America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar-a-Lago. Over 500 people attended, including several Texas Senators — Bryan Hughes, Donna Campbell, Brandon Creighton and Dawn Buckingham, with President Trump as keynote. I was honored to be invited to sit with and visit with the President at the dinner.
November 22
America is at a crossroads, and Texas is ground-zero in the fight. The radicals on the left are focused on destroying the greatest nation on Earth. They seek to erase our history and drive a stake through the heart of American Exceptionalism. Like Travis at the Alamo, I am drawing a line in the sand. I will not yield, I will not waiver. I am resolved to continue the fight for the safety and security of Texas. That's exactly why I'm running for re-election.
November 29

I wrote an editorial that ran on Thanksgiving Day in the Dallas Morning News about our incredible police officers. This is an issue that weighs heavy on my heart.

December
December 6
And last but certainly not least, Jan and I are very blessed to have welcomed our 7th grandchild recently into the world, meet Raegan Faith. What a fantastic way to end the year!
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