Lt. Gov Dan Patrick is responding to Mark Cuban and recent news that the Mavericks have ceased playing the national anthem before games and does not plan to play it moving forward.
In a tweet, Patrick announced the "Star Spangled Banner Protection Act" which will require the national anthem to be played at all events which receive public funding.
Through 13 pre-season and regular season games at American Airlines Center, the national anthem has not been played before tipoff.
According to Tim Cato of The Athletic, owner Mark Cuban confirmed that the organization has ceased playing the national anthem before games and does not plan to play it moving forward.
The Mavericks made no public announcement that they were planning to do this, nor did they reportedly announce or explain internally.
No further explanation has yet to be given by Cuban or the Mavericks.
This is a developing story.