Dan Patrick Outlines Priorities During Waco Visit

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick detailed legislative goals regarding utility regulations and school taxes.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Utilities

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a large transmission tower, evoking the structural scale of state utility policy and regulation. — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick outlined new legislative priorities Tuesday, proposing strict utility easement regulations and the future elimination of school property taxes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick visited Waco on Tuesday to outline his legislative priorities. He highlighted recent state investments while addressing public concerns over data center and power line placement.

Why it matters

The administration aims to address public sentiment as recent surveys show 65% of Texans believe the state is on the wrong track. Patrick is using the tour to emphasize his legislative record and propose future regulatory shifts.

The state recently provided $350 million to rural law enforcement and $40 billion in additional public education funding. Texas is currently projected to become the world's 7th largest economy by the end of this year.

The players

Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick is the Lieutenant Governor of Texas who oversees the state senate and sets its legislative agenda.

The details

Patrick, appearing at the Baylor Club and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, announced plans to mandate that power lines follow existing highway easements. He also pledged to work toward the elimination of school property taxes if re-elected.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026: Dan Patrick spoke at a luncheon and press conference.
Monday, October 19, 2026: Early voting begins.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election Day.

Market Landscape

Patrick proposes a structural change to the Texas school property tax system, extending his long-standing legislative effort to shift the state's tax burden. This move positions his platform against existing fiscal reliance on local property revenue.

Residents may see changes to how transmission lines are routed, as officials seek to minimize the use of private land in favor of highway easements. Additionally, rural law enforcement staffing is set to stabilize through state-mandated minimum salaries of $75,000 for sheriffs.

The takeaway

The state government is aggressively pursuing infrastructure and tax policy changes to alter public perception before the upcoming election. Voters can expect the intersection of property tax reform and data center regulation to remain a central campaign theme.