He Put a Hall Monitor Over Texas Universities
SB 37 rewrote higher-ed governance and created a new ombudsman office - another Austin leash for campus decisions.
Dan Patrick's higher-ed agenda has a theme: if a campus makes decisions he does not like, Austin should move the furniture.
Senate Bill 37 keeps that theme humming. Its official caption says it relates to governance of public higher-ed institutions, including review of curriculum and degree or certificate programs, faculty councils or senates, governing-board training, and a new Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman. Texas Legislature Online lists SB 37 as effective on 9/1/25.
The campus micromanagement playlist
Curriculum review. Degree-program review. Faculty governance. Board training. Ombudsman powers and duties.
That is not a light touch. That is a whole playlist of Austin oversight aimed at public universities that already answer to boards, accreditors, students, parents, taxpayers, and the job market.
Conservatives should ask the obvious question
If Patrick trusts Texans, why does he keep reaching for statewide control panels?
Universities are not perfect. No institution is. But fixing higher ed should mean transparency, affordability, workforce value, and accountability for results - not another round of political supervision that makes campuses wonder which headline will become next session's compliance memo.
Texas deserves less theater
Good governance is boring on purpose. It measures outcomes, solves problems, and leaves room for professionals to do their jobs.
Dan Patrick keeps choosing the louder route. In 2026, Texans can choose Vikki Goodwin instead - and send Austin a message that oversight should not mean turning every campus into a branch office of the culture war.
Sources
Meet the alternative: Vikki Goodwin
Texas has a choice. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin is running for Lieutenant Governor on a platform of fully funding public schools, protecting the grid, and keeping government out of small businesses it doesn't understand. If you're tired of Dan Patrick's priorities, there's somewhere else to put your vote.