Dan Patrick

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 4

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement August 11th following the passage of Senate Bill 4, prohibiting the availability of abortion-inducing drugs by mail, by Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville:

“Since I was first elected to the Texas Senate, protecting life has been one of my top priorities. When abortion-inducing drugs are available by mail, Texas women are put at risk from human traffickers and abusive spouses or significant others. By banning abortion-inducing drugs' availability by mail, Senate Bill 4 strengthens Texas’ firm position that we are a pro-life state.

“This is the third time the Texas Senate has passed this bill. Final passage of this bill into law will require the House Democrats who have fled the state to return to the House for a quorum. If they do not, this bill will die, but the Senate will pass Senate Bill 4 over and over again until the House finally has a quorum.”

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 5

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement August 11th following the passage of Senate Bill 5, preventing social media censorship, by Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola:

“Texans, regardless of their ideology or message, have the right to take part in digital debates. Senate Bill 5 ensures that social media companies will not be able to deny Texans their right to free speech or discriminate against them because of their point of view. Freedom of speech is a God-given right, and protecting that right is a top priority for Texans. We cannot allow social media platforms – the modernday town square – to censor the views of Texans.

“This bill has passed the Texas Senate three times now. Final passage of this bill into law will require the House Democrats who have fled the state to return to the House for a quorum. If they do not, this bill will die, but the Senate will pass Senate Bill 5 over and over until the House finally has a quorum.”

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 14

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement August 11th following the passage of Senate Bill 14, the Business Freedom and Uniformity Act, by Senator Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe:

“The Texas economy is the 9th largest in the world, and it will continue its upward trajectory if we maintain a low-tax, predictable regulatory landscape that encourages companies to move and grow their businesses here. Senate Bill 14 will usher in a predictable regulatory environment statewide for businesses so they can continue contributing to the Texas success story.

“This is the third time the Texas Senate has passed this bill. Final passage of this bill into law will require the House Democrats who have fled the state to return to the House for a quorum. If they do not, this bill will die, but the Senate will pass Senate Bill 14 over and over again until the House finally has a quorum.”

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 1

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement August 12th following the passage of Senate Bill 1, the Election Integrity Bill, by Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola:

“After 24 hours straight on the Senate floor, including a 15 hour filibuster, I am very proud that the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 1 today. This is the fourth time we have passed this bill out of the Senate.

“SB 1 is about ensuring that every Texan trusts the outcome of every election in Texas. It increases transparency and ensures the voting rules are the same in every county across the state. It will require that signatures on mail-in ballots are verified so we know that ballots cast by mail belong to the people they say they belong to.

“Texas has more early voting hours than many states, and SB 1 expands early voting hours. SB 1 also prohibits any election machine or counting machine from being connected to the internet, making hacking impossible, and it will allow Texans to watch votes being counted on election night as larger counties will be required to livestream the vote tabulation process.

“I salute Senator Hughes and the Republicans who worked diligently to pass this bill for the fourth time. Final passage of SB 1 into law will require the House Democrats who have fled the state to return to the House for a quorum. If they do not, this bill will die, but the Senate will pass SB 1 over and over again until the House finally has a quorum.”

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Letter to the PUC on House Bill 449

Last week, (August 17th) Senator Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, and 19 other Texas Senators sent a letter to the letter to Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUC) Chair Peter Lake, and Commissioners Will McAdams and Lori Cobos regarding House Bill 4492. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick sent the following letter to Chairman Lake and Commissioners McAdams and Cobos in support of the senators’ position:

Dear Commissioner: I have reviewed the August

I have reviewed the August 2, 2021, letter Chairman Chris Paddie wrote to you where he makes the claim that House Bill 4492 from the 87th Regular Legislative Session "does not contemplate or authorize any 'netting' between companies." That may have been his view, but it was never presented or shared in the Texas Senate. The Senate would not have passed a bill giving taxpayer dollars to companies that profited during the storm.

If you review the Senate floor debate, you can plainly and clearly hear Senator Kelly Hancock, the Senate sponsor of the bill, state the $2.1 billion cap includes netting.

House Bill 4492 had no reason to exist other than to provide relief for ERCOT market participants who were adversely affected by exorbitant ancillary service prices and help alleviate charges that would be passed on to customers.

Chairman Paddie's interpretation is in stark contrast to the intent and plain reading of the bill. If it was his intent to give taxpayer dollars to companies that profited during the storm instead of to those who were actually exposed to extraordinary costs and damages, I can confidently say that was not the understanding or intent of the Texas Senate when it passed HB 4492.

Chairman Paddie, who inexplicably and without notice removed the $2.1 billion cap all-together from the conference committee report, only to replace it the next day once discovered by the Senate, has once again tried to alter the purpose of this bill from what the Senate passed.

I urge you to follow the plain meaning of HB 4492 as the Texas Senate considered and passed it and calculate cost exposure on a net basis. Thank you for all you do for Texas.

Sincerely,

Dan Patrick

Lieutenant Governor