Texas Interim Agenda Sets the Stage for 2027 Legislative Debates

August 10, 2026
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The Texas Legislature may not meet for a regular session until January 2027, but the policy battles in Austin are already boiling over. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and newly installed Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows have finalized a comprehensive roadmap of 2026 interim charges. These directives mandate that legislative committees hold public hearings and draft blueprints on the state’s most volatile issues — ranging from a massive tax relief package to a deep review of religious boundaries and technological overhauls.

The Texas Senate: The Fight Over Property Taxes and Public Faith

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has deployed a sweeping slate of over 80 interim charges designed to lock in a conservative platform ahead of the 90th Legislative Session.

  • “Operation Double Nickel” Tax Overhaul: The headlining directive orders the Senate Finance Committee to study an aggressive new property tax relief framework. The charge seeks to drop the age threshold to freeze homestead property taxes from 65 down to 55, while dramatically expanding the state’s homestead exemption to $180,000 for standard homeowners and $240,000 for seniors.
  • The Religious Liberty Push: In late July, Patrick issued an additional seven high-profile interim charges focused heavily on infusing faith into public life. Handed down to the newly formed Religious Liberty Committee, these mandates require senators to find ways to expand religious practices across education, healthcare, and the workplace. They are also conducting a pulse check on a 2025 statute that allows public school students excused absences for off-campus religious instruction.
  • School Choice Celebrations: The Education Committee has been explicitly charged with monitoring and expanding Senate Bill 2, which established the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) voucher program. Lawmakers are tasked with finding ways to upscale the program to meet a reported surge of over 250,000 applicants.

The Texas House: Labor Restrictions, AI, and Teacher Pay Gaps

Under the leadership of Speaker Dustin Burrows, the House interim charges lean heavily into workforce disruption, economic insulation, and local market oversight.

  • Immigration & Driver License Crackdowns: Following a federal emergency rule shift, the House Transportation Committee is currently investigating the economic and safety impact of non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders. Lawmakers are evaluating whether the presence of non-citizen commercial drivers correlates with heightened traffic incidents on Texas highways.
  • The H-1B University Halt: Committees are laying the groundwork for the 2027 session by reviewing Governor Greg Abbott’s temporary pause on H-1B visa applications for state agencies and public universities. Lawmakers are assessing “bad actors” accused of exploiting the worker program to the detriment of local graduates.
  • Bridging the Rural Teacher Pay Gap: On the education front, while both chambers are monitoring the implementation of massive teacher retention allotments, the Texas House has uniquely charged its members to construct legislative mechanisms specifically aimed at closing the severe educator compensation gap plaguing rural school districts.

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