The Texas Senate has released its first round of interim charges for the 2026 election cycle, outlining the policy areas lawmakers will study ahead of the next regular legislative session. The five charges, announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, touch on some of the most politically prominent issues in Texas today: preventing the use of Sharia Law, further property tax cuts, securing the state’s electric grid and supply chains, preventing fraud and abuse in taxpayer-funded programs, and promoting “America and Texas First” values in public schools.
Interim charges guide the work of legislative committees between sessions. Senators and representatives use this period to gather testimony, review data, and develop policy recommendations that may later become bills. While interim charges do not themselves change the law, they signal leadership priorities and often preview the debates that will shape the next session.
At the top of Patrick’s list is a charge titled “preventing Sharia Law in Texas.” The issue has gained increased attention among Republican leaders and candidates in recent months. The charge states, “Only state and federal laws apply in Texas and ‘Sharia law’ or other secondary judicial systems have no place in Texas.” It directs senators to examine whether any alternative legal systems are being used or promoted within the state.
The charge specifically references EPIC City, a residential development associated with the East Plano Islamic Center, and calls for it to be examined. It asks lawmakers to “make legislative recommendations that will protect Texans from housing discrimination and unscrupulous developers.” This follows recent actions by Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has called for investigations into the project over alleged procedural violations and fraud, and Gov. Greg Abbott’s designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with the Muslim Brotherhood, as foreign terrorist organizations.
Another major focus of the interim charges is property tax relief, an issue that has been a centerpiece of recent legislative sessions and statewide campaigns. The charge, titled “further property tax cuts,” emphasizes the popularity of the homestead exemption and highlights a proposal Patrick announced in December known as “Operation Double Nickel.”
Under that proposal, the age to qualify for the senior homestead exemption would be lowered from 65 to 55, the standard homestead exemption would increase by $40,000 to a total of $180,000, and additional limits would be placed on local governments’ ability to raise property taxes while still allowing for growth. The charge instructs lawmakers to “Assess the impact of reducing the senior homestead exemption from 65 to 55 years of age,” noting that “This change would freeze home values 10 years sooner for over 3 million homeowners, saving 55 plus homeowners thousands of additional dollars.”
Property tax reform is also a priority for Gov. Abbott, who unveiled his own plan roughly a month before Patrick’s announcement. Abbott’s proposal includes appraisal caps and stricter limits on local government spending, with a strong emphasis on curbing what he has described as excessive tax increases by cities and counties. The differing approaches signal potential negotiations — and disagreements — between the state’s top leaders when the 2027 legislative session begins.
Infrastructure security is another area highlighted in the interim charges. Under the heading “Securing Critical Infrastructure and Supply Chain Integrity,” senators are asked to evaluate the reliability of the Texas electric grid and identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign entities. The charge reflects ongoing concerns following past grid failures and broader national discussions about infrastructure resilience and foreign influence.
The fourth charge, “Protecting Taxpayer Funds – Preventing Fraud and Abuse,” directs lawmakers to review fraud prevention efforts in state-funded human services programs. It specifically mentions Medicaid and child care services and notes recent actions by Abbott to address fraud. The charge asks senators to “explore and recommend ways to prevent fraud and abuse in Texas human service programs including, but not limited to, Medicaid and Child Care Services programs.”
Related to this focus, Abbott recently froze H-1B visa applications for Texas state schools and similarly funded agencies and requested reports on the employment of visa holders. Concerns about fraud in the H-1B program have drawn increased national attention, and the move signals heightened scrutiny of employment practices within state-supported institutions.
The final charge centers on education and is titled “Promoting America & Texas First in Our Schools.” It calls on lawmakers to “Provide recommendations to strengthen laws stopping hostile countries or related entities from infiltrating our classrooms,” and to “make recommendations to ensure public schools promote students’ learning about American and Texas exceptionalism.” The charge reflects broader debates over curriculum content, foreign influence, and civic education.
In announcing the interim charges, Patrick said in a press release, “These first 5 interim charges, released today, reflect issues that I am particularly focused on, and Texans have asked the Texas Senate to study.” He added that senators have been asked to submit their recommendations by February 20, after which his office will review the proposals. Patrick also said a full list of interim charges will be released in March.
The 90th Texas Legislature is scheduled to convene on January 12, 2027, with bill filing set to begin on November 9, 2026. Meanwhile, the Texas House of Representatives is expected to announce its own interim charges soon, under the direction of Speaker Dustin Burrows of Lubbock. Together, the Senate and House interim work will shape the policy landscape leading into the next legislative session.
