07/27/2026
Your State Government in Action: Watch Interim Committee Hearings Beginning Today
This week, I will join the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, the Senate Committee on Higher Education and the Senate Finance Committee for interim hearings on several critical issues impacting Texas. The next Texas legislative session does not begin until January of 2027; however, interim committee hearings are ongoing and help us develop legislative priorities to address critical issues facing Texans. Senate committee hearings are publicly broadcast and can be viewed here (https://us.list-manage.com/ZprEFHZ0fHS?e=63b62651fa&c2id=6ed6eab468f1086a7d1f794aeb467d7c).
The Senate Finance Committee will meet on Monday, July 27th, to evaluate funding for transportation resources, monitor rural fire protection funding, discuss the implications and consequences of data center sales tax exemptions and review crime victims' compensation and assistance funds. We will meet again on Tuesday, July 28th, to examine reporting and disclosure practices at institutions of higher education and review state agencies' strategies to detect fraud, waste and abuse.
The Senate Committee on Higher Education will meet on Tuesday, July 28th, and Wednesday, July 29th, to monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 37 (https://us.list-manage.com/FkPVMvGKsMy?e=63b62651fa&c2id=6ed6eab468f1086a7d1f794aeb467d7c) and House Bill 127 (https://us.list-manage.com/rlpj0MApMpA?e=63b62651fa&c2id=6ed6eab468f1086a7d1f794aeb467d7c), two significant higher education reforms enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2025.
Senate Bill 37 strengthens the governance of Texas public institutions of higher education by reforming institutional oversight, enhancing curriculum review and better aligning academic programs with the workforce needs of the state's economy.
House Bill 127 protects Texas colleges and universities from foreign influence, espionage and the theft of sensitive research by restricting certain partnerships and financial relationships with entities connected to countries designated by the federal government as foreign adversaries.
The Senate Committee on Business & Commerce will meet on Wednesday, July 29th, to examine the impact of proposed 765-kV transmission line projects and the impact on the rights of property owners and the cost passed down to retail electric consumers while continuing its oversight of the state's electric grid. The committee will also receive updates on the implementation of Senate Bill 6 (https://us.list-manage.com/9vZh0pFx3KW?e=63b62651fa&c2id=6ed6eab468f1086a7d1f794aeb467d7c), legislation I authored during the 2025 Legislative Session that established a fair and reliable framework for connecting large electric loads to the ERCOT grid. The law is designed to support economic growth while ensuring that the costs associated with large-load interconnections are borne by those creating the demand, not by Texas residential customers. I look forward to hearing how these reforms are being implemented and discussing additional opportunities to strengthen the reliability of our electric grid while protecting Texans.
