Texas Lieutenant Governor (Lt. Gov.)

Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin says senators will help shape the agenda as she prepares to lead a chamber that remains under Republican control.

Outgoing Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he supports Republican state senators changing the rules to strip powers from his Democratic successor after losing his reelection bid by nearly 600,000 votes.

The Democrat filed a police complaint against the Republican incumbent, saying state law bans deceptive video so close to the election. Patrick's camp said they were obvious parodies.

"We're coming for the books," the lieutenant governor said in announcing plans to lower the performance rating of Texas schools that violate a recent law targeting obscene titles in school libraries.

The state's power grid operator had already planned on auditing several data center proposals, but Abbott's directive reworks the timeline and adds new requirements.

A plan to build a network of 765 kV transmission lines to bolster the state's power grid has come under intense opposition from landowners in its path and others.

The lieutenant governor released seven new charges for state senators to study before the Legislature reconvenes, including ways to “inform and remind Texans of their religious liberty rights.”

The state’s higher education agency recommends Texas lawmakers revamp funding for public universities that rewards schools for student success.

Several Democratic candidates for local, state, and national offices kicked off their West Texas campaign trail in Lubbock on Saturday with a roundtable, a rally, and a protest. The recurring topic of these events – data centers.

A GOP leader, Patrick has been a staunch advocate for conservative Christian values in his role presiding over the Texas Senate.