"I am hopeful for some significant change," Goodwin said in an interview, pointing to the need to boost spending on K-12 public schools.

"We are seeing so many of our neighborhood schools close down and really struggling to keep the quality teachers that we need in the classrooms, and to keep the classroom sizes small enough so that kids can get the attention they need," she said.

Her comments came as state lawmakers filed more than 1,200 bills on Monday, the first day of filing for the next legislative session. The proposals include measures on education funding and a repeal of the state's Education Savings Account program, which went into effect this fall and provides $1 billion in taxpayer money for students to attend private schools.

Goodwin campaigned on eliminating the school choice program and reiterated that goal Monday.

"I really want to take the billion dollars that we have going into that ESA program and bring it back into our public schools," she said.

Last year, the Republican majority added $8.5 billion to school district budgets, but Democrats, including Goodwin, argued it was insufficient.

On healthcare, Goodwin said she wants to expand Medicaid in Texas, a move Republicans have blocked for years.

"That was one of my pledges during my campaign: to provide a healthcare system that works for everybody, and that includes expanding Medicaid," she said. "That would allow us to bring federal dollars back to the state to help people in Texas."

Despite Republicans retaining their majority in the Texas Senate, Goodwin, who will serve as the Senate's presiding officer, pledged to reach across the aisle.

"I think we can find consensus on these issues," she said. "Texans spoke up, whether they are Republican or Democrat, they said that we're ready for a change in direction. So, I want to make sure that I have conversations with each and every Senator to understand what their district needs."

Her bipartisan overture comes as outgoing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leaves office in January, told conservative radio host Mark Davis on Monday that Senate Republicans should change the rules to protect their conservative majority.

But conservative State Sen. Bob Hall, whose district includes parts of Dallas County and East Texas, said he has no intention of blocking bills for partisan reasons. Asked whether Senate Republicans would act as a wall against Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and House Democrats, Hall said, "I don't know whether it would be a wall or not. I think we will do what we think is right for the people of Texas. I know of no plan or intention to fight bills based on party. I never have."

Hall said his own priorities include shutting down the Texas Lottery, an effort he attempted last year, and passing a bill to require blood banks and hospitals to provide transfusions for patients in need.

Other bills filed Monday include raising the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour, repealing state sales tax incentives for data center projects, and repealing laws requiring agreements between Texas sheriff's departments and ICE.

Goodwin is scheduled to hold a news conference at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday to introduce her bipartisan transition leadership team.

Meanwhile, Patrick announced he has formed a new consulting company, Patrick Strategies, that he will lead after leaving office. Former Secretary of State and longtime Republican State Sen. Jane Nelson also announced Monday that she has started a new company, Nelson Global Strategies.