Dan Patrick Discovered "Local Control" Is Optional When It's Your Backyard

The state now sets your city's lot sizes

Senate Bill 15, passed through Dan Patrick's Texas Senate in the 89th Legislature, was signed and took effect September 1, 2025. It's right there on the state's bill page.

The verbatim caption from Texas Legislature Online:

"Relating to size and density requirements for residential lots in certain municipalities; authorizing a fee."

Translation: the state of Texas reached down into city governments and overrode their authority over residential lot sizes and density — and authorized a fee while it was at it. That's Austin telling Denton, and every other "certain municipality," how to do zoning.

The "local control" guy strikes again

Here's the tell. When it's a culture-war issue, Dan Patrick is all about local communities and getting Austin out of your life. When a city's zoning rules get in the way of his agenda, suddenly the state knows best and city hall gets overruled.

Pick a lane. Either local control is a principle or it's a talking point you abandon the moment it's inconvenient. SB 15 shows which one it actually is.

Small business and neighborhoods get steamrolled

Local zoning isn't bureaucratic clutter — it's how neighborhoods and small developers plan around their own community's needs. When the state preempts that with a one-size rule (and a fee), the people who lose are the locals who actually live with the results. Patrick presides over the chamber that produced this; that's on the record (Texas Tribune directory).

Want real local control? Vote for it.

If you believe Texas cities and the people who live in them should decide their own neighborhoods — not the Lt. Governor — there's a name on the ballot: Vikki Goodwin, Texas House District 47.

Ban Dan. Vote Goodwin. Vote them out.