When the Texas Legislature gavels in on Jan. 12, Lubbock’s delegation will be working in a very different Austin. Last week’s elections left a Republican-controlled state Senate and a Democrat-controlled state House, and the region’s lawmakers say that changes what they expect to get done.
State Sen. Charles Perry and state Rep. Carl Tepper, both Lubbock Republicans, laid out their early priorities in interviews with KCBD this week. Here’s what they said and why it matters at home.
Fewer bills, more common ground
Bill filing for the 90th Legislative Session opened Monday. Perry has filed 18 bills so far and Tepper 11, KCBD reported. Lawmakers have until March 12 to file.
Perry was blunt about the odds. “We’re going to have the lowest bill passage rate that I’ve been [part of],” he told the station, adding that as a Republican, “we don’t expect to get our bills passed.” Both men said they plan to lean on issues with support from both parties.
“No matter who’s in the majority, the sessions are always hard,” Tepper said. “I have very good relations with both sides of the aisle.”
Perry: water, infrastructure and workers
Perry said infrastructure and water are at the top of his list. His argument is that getting the basics right brings businesses and good-paying jobs to the region.
He also wants steady funding for career and technical education, which he described as its own kind of infrastructure. “The workforce is different than it was 10 years ago; it’s changing really quick,” he told KCBD. Perry said he wants to add money to the Medically Dependent Children Program and find more money for retired teachers, possibly from one-time dollars.
What he says he won’t do this time: refile the THC ban he carried last session. “You don’t chase things that take a lot of time and energy that won’t pass,” Perry said.
Tepper: water projects, pennies, postmarks and stray dogs
Tepper also pointed to water. “We still need water, we still have water projects all over the region,” he said. That’s a live issue in Lubbock, where the city’s estimated share of the new CRMWA II water pipeline is about $414 million, as we explained last week.
His other bills are more everyday. Tepper said he’s working on legislation on policies and procedures for pennies, and on postmarks. He told KCBD the U.S. Postal Service “is not really doing postmarks anymore,” which can matter for things like whether a property tax payment or a mail-in ballot counts as sent on time.
He’s also working with Democrats on a bill aimed at stray dog problems across the state, he said.
What it means for Lubbock residents
Perry summed up the session in practical terms: “The average guy wants his water to run, wants the lights to come on, wants the roads to be drivable, and wants their kids to have an opportunity.”
For South Plains readers, the items to watch are regional water funding, career and technical education funding, retired teacher benefits, and the postmark fix that could affect how you mail your property tax payment. We’ll track Lubbock-area bills as they’re filed and heard.
How to follow along
- The session starts Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027. The bill-filing deadline is March 12, per KCBD.
- Bills, authors and hearing schedules are posted on Texas Legislature Online, capitol.texas.gov.
- For more on how Tepper sees the House speakership and committee assignments, read Lubbock Lights’ Nov. 5 interview.
Sources
- KCBD, Madeleine Hall, Nov. 11, 2026: https://www.kcbd.com/2026/11/12/lubbock-legislators-prepare-upcoming-session-with-divided-power/
- Texas Legislature Online: https://capitol.texas.gov/
- Lubbock Lights: https://lubbocklights.com/
- Hub City UnCovered: CRMWA II explained: https://hubcityuncovered.com/crmwa-ii-lubbock-414-million-water-pipeline-explained/