Texas Senate to review live performance tickets, gaming platforms, spiritual liberty

• Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has ordered the state Senate to review a number of key points earlier than the 2027 legislative session.
• The Senate will look at on-line live performance ticket pricing to enhance transparency and defend customers.
• Committees are tasked with reviewing spiritual liberty protections and baby security on gaming platforms.
• Other subjects for examine embody the effectivity of kid custody proceedings and water administration of the Pecos River.

A Texas legislative chief has directed the state Senate to review on-line live performance ticket pricing, spiritual liberty, baby security on gaming platforms and Pecos River water administration earlier than the Legislature convenes in January 2027.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick launched seven additional interim charges on July 27 to numerous committees to conduct hearings and file stories earlier than lawmakers meet in Austin for his or her biennial legislative session to assist information their efforts.

“Today, I launched an extra seven interim fees for Texas Senate committees to review in preparation for the ninetieth Texas Legislature, reflecting points dealing with Texans for the Senate to review,” Patrick mentioned in a press release.

Here’s a have a look at the costs and the committees tasked with them.

Texas Senate to weigh online ticket sales practices

Patrick’s charges ask the Senate Business and Commerce Committee to evaluate how online ticket platforms operate and to recommend ways to improve price transparency throughout the ticket-purchase process.

Patrick also asks the committee to identify ways to protect Texans from unfair or deceptive practices — particularly within the secondary ticket market.

“Consider what adjustments, if any, needs to be made to the state’s client safety legal guidelines to make sure a good, aggressive, and accessible reside leisure ticket market,” the directive reads.

Senate to look at spiritual liberty protections, public training efforts

The Senate Religious Liberty Committee is tasked with three fees:

• Study the current state of religious liberty under federal and state law and determine if additional protections are needed.
• Find ways to educate Texans about their religious liberties in all settings, including education, workplace, government and healthcare.
• Monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 1049 (2025), which required schools to adopt policies that allow students to be briefly excused from school to receive religious instruction during the school day.

Texas Senate to study minors on gaming platforms, custody proceedings

The Senate State Affairs Committee got the following two charges:

• Study and determine which gaming platforms advertise to minors, whether the advertisements are appropriate and whether the platforms have sufficient age verification and youth protections. Additionally, make recommendations to prohibit communications between minors and adults on gaming platforms.
• Evaluate the divorce and child custody proceedings to identify inefficiencies in these proceedings that result in “unpredictable timelines, pointless delays, repetitive baby evaluations or different unnecessary issues” to make recommendations that prioritize the best interests of children.

Lastly, the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is tasked with studying the management of the Pecos River Basin to make recommendations to modernize special district governance, enhance interstate coordination and ensure long-term basin reliability.

Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.