Patrick's New Charges: Data Centers, THC Ban, Tax Tweaks

0:00It's April 1st. Welcome to Dallas News Today, powered by AI. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick just issued fresh interim charges to Senate committees ahead of the 2027 legislative session. Key targets include the boom in data centers, pushing to ban THC products, closing gambling loopholes, and tweaking property taxes. This builds on his five January priorities, like blocking Sharia law, deeper property tax cuts, rooting on Medicaid fraud, and enforcing America and Texas first policies in schools. Data centers are straining resources, so three committees will probe water demands on farmers and residents, power grid upgrades for massive loads, and sales tax exemptions to ensure everyday Texans gain from the growth. Patrick's doubling down on banning THC after last session's vetoed bill, tasking health experts to study skyrocketing care costs, mental health, crises, and psychosis risks. Meanwhile, prediction markets like Kowshi and Polymarket face scrutiny to safeguard elections and sports betting integrity.

1:06Committees will also eye bigger homestead exemptions and dropping the senior property tax breakage from 65 to 55, setting the stage. For heated debates when lawmakers reconvene.