A routine practice in the Texas House turned into controversy this week as sources say State Rep. Jared Patterson, chair of the Local and Consent Calendar Committee, reportedly blocked a resolution honoring a late conservative activist, despite similar resolutions being commonplace.
House Resolution 170, filed by State Rep. Andy Hopper (R–Decatur), sought to honor the life of Jill Glover, a longtime conservative activist and former member of the State Republican Executive Committee, who died of cancer last year.
House members often suspend the rules to bring up such resolutions, particularly when friends and family of the honoree are present in the Capitol to witness the recognition. This informal process is typically approved by the chair of the Local and Consent Calendar Committee.
However, sources indicate that Patterson refused to allow the resolution to be heard.
Christin Bentley, a current member of the State Republican Executive Committee, shared her outrage on X, stating, “Instead, Rep. Hopper was able to do a floor recognition, knowing that people had come to the Capitol expecting the resolution to be heard. The kind of hatred that must live in someone who would interfere with honoring the life of a woman who served well and passed too soon is nothing less than diabolical.”
Multiple members of the House confirmed to Texas Scorecard that Patterson blocked consideration of the resolution. Patterson did not respond to a request for comment, but later posted on X a memo his office released on Thursday issuing new guidelines for rules suspension requests on resolutions.
The memo states that the rules will be suspended for resolutions honoring elected officials, while “political figures” will not.
Additionally, State Rep. Shelley Luther (R–Sherman) prepared a resolution to honor and thank the doctors and hospital staff who saved her life at Medical City Plano following a nearly fatal brain aneurysm in 2023, as hospital administrators were present in the gallery. However, Patterson advised Luther she could only recognize them informally, as the resolution was “too personal and the House should not vote on that.”
However, before she could do so, Dallas Democrat Rep. John Bryant was recognized to suspend the rules and present a separate resolution honoring several other Medical City branches.
The resolution honoring Glover, meanwhile, has been sent to the Local and Consent Committee, meaning it could be passed on a later date.
Lawmakers recently suspended the rules to take up a resolution honoring Beyonce following the Grammy Awards.
Former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi, meanwhile, called Patterson “one of the worst human beings in politics, which is truly remarkable considering the competition.”
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