Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 21
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement following the passage of Senate Bill 21, the Bail Reform bill, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:
"Across Texas, repeat and violent offenders are being released on personal recognizance or very low bail by judges and magistrates who do not fully consider an offender's violent history, putting Texas communities and law enforcement at risk. In 2020, over ten thousand crimes were committed by offenders out on bond. Lives have been lost. Senate Bill 21 reins in these bail practices and will help protect the law enforcement officers, and their communities as a whole.
"I appreciate Sen. Huffman's leadership on these critical bail reforms and her commitment to public safety."
Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 19
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement April 15th, following the passage of Senate Bill 19, the Stop Corporate Gun Boycotts Act, by Senator Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown:
"I congratulate Senator Schwertner and the Texas Senate on the passage of Senate Bill 19 which ensures that the state of Texas will no longer do business with companies that discriminate against Second Amendment businesses. I stand with the majority of Texans who overwhelmingly support the right to bear arms and I am firmly committed to ensuring that we protect this important constitutional right."
Senate Bill 19 is authored by Senators Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels and Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.
Statement on the Unanimous Passage of Senate Bill 22
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement April 21st, following the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 22, the First Responders Pandemic Care Act, by Senator Drew Springer, R-Muenster:
"During the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas first responders repeatedly went beyond the call of duty to assist their fellow Texans, often putting their own health at risk. Sadly, too many of our first responders subsequently contracted COVID-19 and suffered partial or total disability, or passed away from the disease.
"Senate Bill 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. I congratulate Senator Springer and the Texas Senate for unanimously passing Senate Bill 22 and standing up for our heroes, who risk their lives for our communities every day."
Senate Bill 22 is authored by Senators Drew Springer, R-Muenster, Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Beverly Powell, D-Burleson, and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.