Ok, so here you have it. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's Top 30 Priorities for the 88th (2023) Texas Legislative Session.
Check out Senate Bill 16–Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education; Senate Bill 17-Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education; and Senate Bill 18-Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions.
So I've heard that they'll clear out of the Senate where we expect this and then head over to the House where the battle will occur. I hope that our House Members will remain strong in valuing our diversity alongside equity and fairness in our state.
Contrary to Gov. Abbott's recent statement, DEI is NOT at all illegal as expressed by BBDP Board Member and former Austin American-Statesman editorial writer, Alberta Phillips, in the press release that BBDP sent out yesterday,
“[W]e urge the media to be careful about how it covers DEI policies. It should not be taken as fact that DEI policies are illegal or unconstitutional.
If any government official says that this is the case, then the media should require that the statement be backed by evidence and facts, not just someone’s statement.
As a check on government, the media has an obligation to sort fact from fiction. The facts are that DEI policies are ways for People of color to apply for state jobs and admission to state universities. And on the part of state agencies and universities, DEI policies are simply goals—without the force of law or consequences—that aim to move the needle forward so that state agencies, public colleges, and universities reflect the people who pay the tabs to sustain them.”
Well said, Alberta.
I'm encouraged by the passion and commitment that was expressed at yesterday's press conference that you can view here.
I very much encourage you to read Texas NAACP Chair Gary Bledsoe's statement in response. Watch out sports fans and business leaders.
Anti-DEI is terrible for business, too. Nuff said.
-Angela Valenzuela
@TeamBlackBrown #TeamBlackBrown #BlackBrownUnity #DontLetDEIdie #GenZ #BlackBrownSolidarity
AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today:
“Each session, the 31 members of the Texas Senate file thousands of bills. Some are duplicates because members often have similar priorities voiced to them by their constituents. The tradition has been for bill numbers 1 through 20 to indicate the Lt. Governor’s and the Senate’s priorities. In 2017, I increased the low bill numbers to 30. Senators like to get a low bill number because it shows their bill is also a priority of the Lt. Governor and has a great chance of passing. I believe Texans support our priorities because they largely reflect the policies supported by the conservative majority of Texans. Most will pass with bipartisan support.
“This session I could have used 50 low bill numbers because there are so many issues that need to be addressed. Just because a bill does not make the priority list does not mean it is not a priority for me or the Senate. We will pass over 600 bills this session. As I like to say, every bill is a priority to someone, otherwise we would not pass it.
“This year, several of our policy initiatives are already addressed in the budget as opposed to specific bills. One example is Texas border security funding. Since President Biden took office and implemented his open border policies, Texas has stepped into the breach. Texas should not have to use our tax dollars to do the Federal Government’s job, but it is vitally important that we maintain our law enforcement and National Guard presence. If we do not, the border crisis will get much worse.”
Lt. Gov. Patrick’s Priority Bills:
Senate Bill 1 – State Budget
Senate Bill 2 – Restoring Voter Fraud to a Felony
Senate Bill 3 – Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $70,000
Senate Bill 4 – Adding Additional Property Tax Relief
Senate Bill 5 – Increasing the Business Personal Property Tax Exemption
Senate Bill 6 – Adding New Natural Gas Plants
Senate Bill 7 – Continuing to Improve the Texas Grid
Senate Bill 8 – Empowering Parental Rights – Including School Choice
Senate Bill 9 – Empowering Teacher Rights – Teacher Pay Raise
Senate Bill 10 – Adding 13th Checks for Retired Teachers
Senate Bill 11 – Keeping Our Schools Safe and Secure
Senate Bill 12 – Banning Children’s Exposure to Drag Shows
Senate Bill 13 – Protecting Children from Obscene Books in Libraries
Senate Bill 14 – Ending Child Gender Modification
Senate Bill 15 – Protecting Women’s College Sports
Senate Bill 16 – Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education
Senate Bill 17 – Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education
Senate Bill 18 – Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions
Senate Bill 19 – Creating A New Higher Education Endowment Fund
Senate Bill 20 – Removing District Attorneys Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law
Senate Bill 21 – Removing Judges Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law
Senate Bill 22 – Assisting Rural Law Enforcement Funding – Increasing Pay and Needed Equipment
Senate Bill 23 – Creating A Mandatory 10-Year Prison Sentence for Criminals Committing Gun Crime
Senate Bill 24 – Expanding Alternatives to Abortion
Senate Bill 25 – Creating New Scholarships for Registered Nurses
Senate Bill 26 – Expanding Mental Health Care Beds Across Texas – Focus on Rural Counties
Senate Bill 27 – Creating A New Business Specialty Court
Senate Bill 28 – Addressing Texas’ Future Water Needs
Senate Bill 29 – Banning Local COVID-19 Mandates
Senate Bill 30 – Supplemental Budget
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