Homeland Security, Now With Extra Austin

Dan Patrick loves to sell Texans a simple story: Austin knows best, if Austin is wearing the right campaign hat.

Senate Bill 36 is the latest chapter. The official caption says it relates to "the homeland security activities of certain entities," including "the establishment and operations of the Homeland Security Division in the Department of Public Safety." Texas Legislature Online lists SB 36 as effective on 9/1/25.

The small-government command center

A normal limited-government pitch would be: define the mission, show why existing agencies cannot do it, and keep the footprint tight.

Patrick's Senate gave Texans the Austin version: build another division inside DPS, call it homeland security, and tell everyone this is just common sense. Maybe it is. Maybe it is bureaucracy in a cowboy hat. The point is that Texans deserve more than a slogan when the state centralizes another public-safety function.

The pattern is the problem

This is the same political machine that talks about local control until local control becomes inconvenient. Then Austin writes the rulebook, expands the command chart, and asks Texans to applaud because the label says "security."

Security matters. So does accountability. A state government that keeps giving itself new levers should have to explain exactly what those levers do, who can pull them, and how ordinary Texans know when the mission has drifted.

Vote for grown-up oversight

Texas does not need more panic-button politics. It needs elected officials who can fund public safety without turning every problem into another centralized Austin project.

Dan Patrick is up in 2026. Vikki Goodwin is the named alternative for Texans who want oversight, competence, and fewer government power grabs dressed up as toughness.