Gov. Greg Abbott, who sets the agenda for special sessions, gave lawmakers a laundry list of policies to consider, including improving flood warning systems and emergency communications; redrawing the state’s congressional maps; regulating consumable THC products; and making it harder for local governments to raise property taxes.
Here’s what to know about the special legislative session, including how to stay informed and get involved in the legislative process.
What’s happening
On June 22, Abbott vetoed a proposed ban on consumable THC products and announced the July 21 special session. Citing “undeniable” legal issues with an outright ban, he asked lawmakers to instead consider regulating THC, which is the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Abbott has proposed prohibiting THC sales near schools, implementing stringent testing requirements, limiting when THC products can be sold and requiring labels similar to those seen on nicotine products.
Proponents of a complete ban, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, said it is necessary to protect Texans from high-potency products that are currently subject to limited regulations. Critics said a THC ban would damage the economy and harm some veterans who use THC to treat conditions such as PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain.
In the wake of the July 4 weekend flooding, Abbott announced 18 agenda items for the legislative overtime. Improving natural disaster response and providing funding for communities impacted by the floods are at the top of the list.
“We're going to look for strategies... that will make preparation for these types of events better, make response to these types of events better—to make sure that we leave this disaster in a way that puts Texas in a better position going forward than we were before this devastating storm hit our state,” Abbott said during a July 17 news conference in San Angelo.
Next steps
At 9 a.m. July 23, an 18-lawmaker panel will meet at the Capitol to hear from invited witnesses about Texas’ response to the floods, state flood infrastructure, local operations in Central Texas’ “flash flood alley” and first responder communications. The committee is slated to hear from impacted Texans July 31 in hard-hit Kerrville.
Several lawmakers whose communities flooded over the holiday weekend will serve on the bipartisan committee, including Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown; Rep. Wes Virdell, R-Brady; Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown; and Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels.
Texans interested in submitting written comments about disaster preparedness and flooding to the committee can do so here.
A bill that would have directed emergency management officials to consider implementing “outdoor warning sirens” and provided funding to help local governments acquire emergency alert systems stalled during the regular legislative session.
“That bill would not have gone into effect until Sept. 1 of this year, so it would not have helped this current disaster,” Darby told Community Impact on July 9. “But the time to respond is now, in order to prevent disasters in the future, or at least try to limit them.”
More details
Texas lawmakers will also consider redrawing the state’s congressional maps after the U.S. Department of Justice raised “constitutional concerns” about four of Texas’ 38 U.S. House districts in a July 7 letter. The DOJ said the following districts were unconstitutionally gerrymandered based on race:
- TX-09, served by U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston
- TX-18, vacant; last served by Sylvester Turner, who died March 4
- TX-29, served by U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston
- TX-33, served by U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth
“There could be some other states where we’re going to get three or four or five [seats], in addition,” Trump said on the White House’s North Lawn. “Texas would be the biggest one, and that’ll be five.”
Texas officials have stated in court that they did not consider race when drawing the state’s current congressional and legislative districts in 2021, according to Fair Maps Texas, a coalition of advocacy groups that opposes the redistricting push.
Under the state and U.S. Constitutions, Texas is required to redistrict every 10 years—after a census—and take into account population growth and redistribution. However, federal law does not prohibit mid-decade redistricting.
Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Missouri City Democrat who leads the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said June 17 that he was prepared to break quorum to protest congressional redistricting. A two-thirds majority, or quorum, is needed to conduct business in each legislative chamber—meaning at least 100 House members and 21 senators must be present to vote on motions and pass legislation in their respective chambers.
“I am ready, willing and able to get into good trouble by breaking quorum when justice is on the line,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I did not come to the capitol to sit quietly while democracy is dismantled.”
House lawmakers who intentionally break quorum or are otherwise “absent without leave for the purpose of impeding the action of the House” could be fined $500 per day and be required to cover the costs of “securing [their] attendance,” according to the chamber’s rules manual.
Also of note
Abbott asked lawmakers to consider several other policies during the 30-day special session, including:
- Making it harder for local governments to increase property tax rates
- Eliminating the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replacing it with a new testing system
- Prohibiting cities and counties from using public money to hire lobbyists
- Blocking the public disclosure of most police personnel records
- Allowing the state attorney general to independently prosecute election crimes
- Crafting laws “protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion”
Texans can get involved in the legislative process by contacting their local lawmakers, testifying at public hearings and submitting written public comments. Information about how to track legislation is available here.
For future updates on the special legislative session and beyond, visit www.communityimpact.com/texas-legislature or sign up for Community Impact’s local email newsletters, which are delivered every weekday morning.
