Texas state lawmakers have voiced concerns to Gov. Greg Abbott about the Texas Longhorns leaving the Big 12, and drafted a bill requiring legislative approval of conference realignment

Plano, TX – According to the statement, three of the influential Texas state lawmaker’s names — Bonnen, Burrows and Leach — were attached to a bill requiring legislative approval of conference realignment, Saturday Down South reports.

Leach said the state legislature has an obligation to be involved in Texas potentially leaving the Big 12 for the SEC in a series of tweets.

Sen. Brian Birdwell filed a companion bill to the bill filed by Burrows, which would require legislative approval before a public senior college or university can change membership in a collegiate athletic conference.

This legislation would inhibit the proposed move of the University of Texas to the SEC without legislative approval, Birdwell said in a statement.

Such a move would negatively impact other Big 12 schools in our state like Baylor, TCU, and Texas Tech. These schools and their surrounding communities heavily depend on the financial income that BIG 12 football provides.

The University of Texas is an agent of the state and is ultimately making an economic decision solely focused on their own welfare.