Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick gave lawmakers his priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
Texas House and Senate committees will study a wide ranging list of topics including data centers, prediction markets, and THC regulation before returning to Austin for the 2027 legislative session.
Lawmakers want to know how much water and energy is being used up by artificial intelligence-related data center facilities and if the investment is returning value.
The Lt. Governor as presiding officer of the Texas Senate also called on lawmakers to regulate prediction markets. The gambling skeptic called the item over prediction markets “closing gambling loopholes” indicating he will advocate for stricter laws regulating the new technology. Most gambling is against the law in Texas, including casino gaming and sports betting. Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi allow people to put money down on sports and current events and earn money back if their predictions are correct.
Patrick told senators to, “Study the sudden inundation of prediction market gambling and the exploitation of federal law to circumvent Texas gambling prohibitions by allowing users to place bets on the outcome of elections and other events.”
Lawmakers will also study the impact of THC sales and regulation. Lt. Gov. Patrick has previously pushed a statewide ban but Gov. Abbott vetoed that idea last year.
Dallas Morning News political reporter, Gromer Jeffers, told NBC 5 the debate will return,”This is an issue he’s been passionate about. You saw some of the news conferences. I don’t think this is something he’s just going to let go. I expect maybe more legislation, closer to a full ban. Adding pressure on Abbott to support a full ban or do what he did and seek other remedies.”
The Speaker of the Texas House also wants to look at whether and how Texas could annex several counties along the New Mexico border.
Lawmakers can begin filing bills in January.
