West DFW News

The Texas Senate has passed several significant bills addressing a range of issues, from education and parental rights to public safety and energy demands.

Senate Bill 10 aims to reintroduce the Ten Commandments into Texas public school classrooms. "It’s time to return the Ten Commandments back to our classrooms where they were displayed for over 200 years," stated the bill's sponsor. The bill follows a 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned previous rulings against religious displays in schools.

Another education-related measure, SB 11, allows prayer or reading of religious texts in schools with student and educator consent. The sponsor expressed encouragement about restoring religious liberty through this legislation.

SB 18 seeks to ban state funding for libraries hosting drag queen story hours, while SB 13 addresses inappropriate content in school libraries by involving parents more directly in book selection processes. "We continue to see materials in some school libraries that are simply not age appropriate," noted the bill's proponent.

In response to concerns about THC products, SB 3 introduces strict regulations on synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol sales across Texas. A local police chief emphasized the risks associated with these products: "Most people think that if you walk into a store and you’re able to buy something from a retail establishment, it must be legal and it must be safe."

SB 12 enhances parental rights by restricting certain educational content and ensuring parental access to their children's educational records. It also requires parental consent for medical treatments administered at schools.

To address increasing power demands, SB 6 was passed to improve electric grid reliability amid rising consumption forecasts. "Over the past few years, we have seen tremendous growth in electricity demand," said the bill's author.

Finally, SB 17 prevents foreign entities from purchasing private property in Texas if they originate from countries deemed adversarial by U.S. intelligence assessments.

Additionally, World Down Syndrome Day was recognized with representatives from various organizations attending a Senate session dedicated to raising awareness about support systems for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Gene Getz was honored as Chaplain of the Day for his contributions as a pastor and author. He presented each senator with an inscribed copy of his Life Essentials Study Bible during his visit.