By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
AUSTIN – As the 90th legislative session draws near at the beginning of 2027, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued his additional 2026 interim charges for the Texas Senate Committees to study in preparation. He had issued charges earlier in the year but added these as the most recent.
Patrick said “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.”
Patrick said he 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.”
Patrick’s additional highlights for the upcoming session include:
- Business and Commerce Committee
- Criminal Justice Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Education Committee
- Finance Committee
- Health and Human Services Committee
- Higher Education Committee
- Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security
- Local Government Committee
- Natural Resources Committee
- Select Committee on Religious Liberty
- State Affairs Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Select Committee on Veteran Affairs Committee
- Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee
A reminder that Texans can and are encouraged to visit Austin and take part in the interim hearings that will affect the 90th legislative session since much of the work is done prior to January 2027.
These hearings are coming soon and for those with an interest in the outcomes you are allowed to speak at these hearings or find a group who is speaking and be part of the larger voice.
Wednesday April 1st 2026
Business and commerce Committee. Including discussion on the Texas electric grid.
Wednesday April 8th
Health and Human services.
Protecting taxpayer funds preventing fraud and abuse in programs including but not limited to Medicaid and childcare services programs.
Monday May 11th 2026
Water, agriculture and rural affairs.
Prioritizing utility revenue for infrastructure maintenance.
Evaluating desalination viability and regulatory efficiency.
Safeguarding the Texas livestock industry.
Monday July 27th 2026
Evaluating transportation resources
Rural fire protection funding
Data center investment and state fiscal effects.
Tuesday July 28th 2026
Finance committee meeting
Higher education transparency
Examining crime victim’s compensation and assistant funds.
Wednesday September 2nd 2026
Finance committee
Further property tax cuts
Preventing fraud waste and abuse.
The earlier charges released by Patrick were in January 2026. These had included charges involving the State Affairs Committee preventing Sharia Law in Texas, the Finance Committee to further property tax cuts also involving the Homestead exemption, the Business and Commerce Committee securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity evaluating the Texas electric grid and other critical infrastructure, the Human Services Committee to protect taxpayer funds and prevent fraud and abuse, and the Education Committee promoting America & Texas First in schools.
