Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Releases New Interim Charges

On July 27, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced seven additional interim charges for Senate committees to study before lawmakers return to Austin in January 2027. Three of those charges were assigned to the Senate Religious Liberty Committee and specifically address the protection and advancement of religious freedom in Texas.

The first charge directs lawmakers to examine the current state of religious liberty in Texas, comparing state protections, including Article I, Section 6 of the Texas Constitution, with federal protections found in the First Amendment. The committee will also determine whether additional safeguards are necessary to ensure Texans can practice their religion free from discrimination or government interference.

Religious liberty is not a special privilege we have to beg for. It is a fundamental right given to us by God and protected by the Constitution. Texans should not have to choose between their faith and their participation in public life, their careers, their education, or their ability to serve their communities.

Unfortunately, we have seen increasing attempts across the country to marginalize Christians and treat sincerely held religious beliefs as something that must be hidden or apologized for. Texas should reject that approach.

The second religious-liberty charge is equally important. It calls for lawmakers to examine ways to educate Texans about their constitutional and sacred right to religious liberty in settings including education, the workplace, government, and healthcare.

Rights mean little if citizens do not know they possess them.

Texas families should understand the First Amendment protects their ability to live according to their faith. Students should know they do not surrender their constitutional rights when they walk through the doors of a public school. Employees should not be forced to abandon their religious convictions simply because they enter the workplace. And government officials should understand their responsibility is to protect constitutional freedoms, not to discriminate against people because of their beliefs.

We also applaud the decision to monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 1049, passed during the 89th Legislature, which provides excused public-school absences for students participating in religious instruction.

Parents, not government bureaucrats, have primary responsibility for the education and upbringing of their children. Texas should continue creating an environment where parents can raise their children according to their faith and values.

The Lt. Governor’s additional charges also demonstrate an important commitment to protecting children from the dangers of the digital world.

The Senate State Affairs Committee has been directed to study online gaming platforms that target minors, including age verification, advertising directed at children, violent and sexual content, and communications between minors and adult strangers.

This is a commonsense priority.

Children should not be left to navigate an increasingly dangerous online environment without meaningful protections. Technology companies should not be permitted to put profits ahead of the safety and innocence of children.

We have consistently advocated for policies to protect children from sexually explicit content, exploitation, and harmful influences. We appreciate Lt. Gov. Patrick and the Texas Senate continuing that work.

Another charge directs lawmakers to examine inefficiencies in Texas divorce and child-custody proceedings, with an emphasis on reducing unnecessary delays and complications while prioritizing the best interests of children.

This is another area where the government should remember what matters most: the family.

When families are caught in prolonged and unnecessarily complicated court proceedings, children often bear the consequences. Texas should pursue reforms that make family courts more consistent, efficient, and focused on the welfare of children.

Taken together, these interim charges demonstrate a clear commitment to conservative principles: protecting constitutional freedoms, defending children, strengthening families, and limiting unnecessary government interference.

We thank Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for putting these issues on the table, and we look forward to seeing the Texas Senate turn these interim charges into meaningful action in the next legislative session.