Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick

My Joint statement with Speaker @Burrows4TX on 2026 Summer Camp Operations. ltgov.texas.gov/2026/05/05/lt-… #txlege

Texas Senators write the vast majority of bills, not my office. My staff and I work collaboratively with Senators and their staff on language to achieve final passage of bills. One of the few exceptions is Senate Bill 4, which I wrote in 2023. I’m proud of Senate Bill 4. It gives local law enforcement in Texas the right to arrest and detain illegal border crossers. I’ve always believed it was constitutional and that it would be a model for other border states. Open-border activists have sued to try to stop SB 4, but they have failed, and the courts have allowed SB 4 to go into effect. SB 4 is an important tool for Texas to help secure the border, especially if a rogue president, like Biden, refuses to enforce our nation's border laws. Thank goodness we have President @realDonaldTrump in office now. He is a fantastic partner with Texas to close the southern border to illegal crossers. SB 4 will help Texas support Border Patrol even more. I thank Senator @ElectCharles Perry and Rep. @DavidSpillerTX for passing this bill through both chambers over staunch opposition from Democrats. #txlege foxnews.com/politics/civil…

Watch Matthew Childress’s powerful summary and testimony for the Heaven’s 27 families. #txlege

After two days of heartbreaking testimony, including from the Heaven’s 27 families, who lost their daughters at Camp Mystic, and from investigators, it’s clear that Camp Mystic was totally unprepared, understaffed, complacent, incompetent, and lacking an evacuation plan. It's time for @TexasDSHS to act NOW and stop Camp Mystic from operating under any license this summer. It’s time to end this 10-month journey of indescribable pain for these families and to protect future campers.   Fact: Texas law requires any camp death to be reported to the state within 24 hours. Today, Mary Liz Eastland, the Chief Health Officer and Camp Director, testified that after 10 months, she still has not reported a single death, as required by law. Camp Mystic’s 2026 application for license renewal had 22 deficiencies that were either incomplete, insufficient, or missing, including a flash flood evacuation plan. Shocking testimony was given today showing that children in multiple cabins were left to fend for themselves and fight for their lives.   The evidence is overwhelming. I am now asking DSHS, for the third time, to stop Camp Mystic from operating under any license this summer.   What other information does DSHS need to act? No more excuses. How many campers must die for a camp operator to lose their license? 
 Is it 1? 3? 5? 10? Is 27 not enough?   If not for brave teenage counselors, who saved girls by their heroic actions, it could have been 50 or more.   After Mystic operators’ previous courtroom testimony, and these 2 days of legislative testimony, I am also calling on Camp Mystic's operators, the Eastland family, to end this nightmare for Heaven’s 27 and WITHDRAW their license application and announce there will be no camp this summer at Mystic. #txlege

Livestream the Senate and House General Investigating Committees on the July 2025 Flooding Events beginning at 10:00 AM: senate.texas.gov/av-live.php #txlege

I have been calling on @TexasDSHS to not renew the camp license for the operators of Camp Mystic for this season until all investigations are complete later this year. Today, House and Senate investigators, after interviewing nearly 140 witnesses, laid out the specific timeline of July 3 and July 4, 2025. Anyone who has not heard the testimony needs to see the video below. It’s factual, riveting, and heartbreaking. No one wants to close Camp Mystic forever. Once you see and hear the evidence, I think you will clearly understand why I, along with the Heaven’s 27 families who lost their children, have called on DSHS to not renew Camp Mystic’s operators’ license until all investigations are complete later this year and Camp Mystic and its operators are determined to be fit to protect and care for children in their custody. Tune in tomorrow for the second day of the Senate General Investigating Committee on the July 2025 Flooding Events hearing. #txlege Watch today's hearing here: senate.texas.gov/videoplayer.ph…

Livestream the Senate and House General Investigating Committees on the July 2025 Flooding Events beginning at 10:00 AM: senate.texas.gov/av-live.php #txlege

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Texas’ Ten Commandments law is constitutional! This is a great day for those who believe in the Word of God. Last session, I made Senate Bill 10, Placing the 10 Commandments in Schools, by Sen. @PhilKingTX, one of my top priorities. As chair of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, I will never stop fighting for Texans’ and Americans’ religious liberty rights. #txlege

Watch my conversation with Dennis Quaid from Thursday at @SFASU. #txlege

It was an incredible honor to meet an American hero, General "Razin" Caine, last evening at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. General Caine is a Texan. He gave an inspiring speech about two Texans who were awarded the Medal of Honor. In my brief remarks, I said that I've been 6’4” tall since the 9th grade, but had never felt so small because I was standing in a room full of giants and heroes. I introduced the General to Senator and Lt. Colonel Brian Birdwell, who President Trump recently appointed Assistant Secretary of War. We will miss him in the Texas Senate, but we are so proud of him. The museum is a great place to visit in Arlington, right near Six Flags Over Texas. #txlege

I had a great evening at @SFASU in Nacogdoches last night with my friend, actor and Texan Dennis Quaid. Over 900 people packed the auditorium to hear our discussion about creating jobs in rural Texas in the film industry, and his 120+ movie career. Stephen F. Austin University recently built a new film school and studio to prepare the next generation of workforce for the film industry in Texas. The Texas film industry will create high-paying jobs all across rural Texas. The Christian film series, “The Chosen,” being filmed in East Texas, is expected to spend over $70 million and hire nearly 1,000 people this year for the production. Joining us on stage was Dennis’s dog, Peaches, who goes everywhere with him. #txlege

It was great to join a crowd of energized conservatives today at the annual @TPPF Policy Summit! TPPF has been a key ally on many conservative policy fights, including the passage of school choice. With 274,000 applications for 100,000 students, it's clear our program is a major HIT with Texas parents. I know TPPF will hit the ground running in the 90th Legislature to help the Texas Senate pass more conservative policy victories to benefit our state. #txlege

Now with a Texas Rangers criminal investigation of Camp Mystic, I am doubling down on @TexasDSHS not issuing a camping license until all investigations are complete and we know children are safe. #txlege

My statement announcing Taylor Sheridan as producer and director of an Alamo battle film for new museum at the Alamo. #txlege

Joint statement with Speaker @Burrows4TX on Ibogaine Program Progress. ltgov.texas.gov/2026/03/31/lt-… #txlege

My statement announcing 2026 Interim Charges to the Texas Senate. To read the interim charges, click here: bit.ly/47uyByN #txlege

Texas has now received OVER A QUARTER MILLION school choice applications! Our school choice program launch, the largest in American history, has proven that school choice is exactly what Texas families wanted! The deadline to apply for the program is March 31. You can apply at: educationfreedom.texas.gov #txlege

My statement announcing new chairs of standing committees, filling committee vacancies, and creating new interim select committees. bit.ly/4sEIJxi #txlege

My statement announcing the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty. #txlege