Texas Governor Greg Abbott sets second special session, with some additions to agenda
A second special session of the Texas Legislature will start Saturday, one day after the current one ends, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday.
On the agenda is “election integrity” legislation that has been a point of tension between Democrats and Republicans. More than 50 House Democrats broke quorum near the start of the special session to block proposals they say would disenfranchise voters. House Democrats have been in Washington for nearly a month pushing for federal voting rights laws.
Abbott sets what items lawmakers can consider during their time in Austin for a special session. Also on the agenda are changes to the state’s bail laws to “protect the public from accused criminals who may be released on bail” and bills related to legislative quorum requirements.
“The Texas Legislature achieved a great deal during the 87th Legislative Session, and they have a responsibility to finish the work that was started,” Abbott said in a statement. “I will continue to call special session after special session to reform our broken bail system, uphold election integrity, and pass other important items that Texans demand and deserve. Passing these Special Session agenda items will chart a course towards a stronger and brighter future for the Lone Star State.”
The 150-member House needs two-thirds of its members present to take up bills in committee or on the floor.
Some of the 17 items on Abbott’s special session call are repeats from the one announced July 7, but it also includes additions.
What’s on the agenda for Texas’ second special session?
The following items are part of Abbott’s special session agenda.
- Legislation “strengthening the integrity of elections in Texas.”
- The allocation if federal COVID-19 relief dollars.
- Education bills that ensure “students receive a high-quality education and progress in their learning; in-person learning is available for any student whose parent wants it; the wearing of face coverings is not mandatory; and COVID-19 vaccinations are always voluntary.”
- Border security bills “ enhancing criminal laws or providing funding from unappropriated available revenues to support law-enforcement agencies, counties, and other strategies as part of Texas’ comprehensive border security plan.”
- Social media censorship bills “protecting social-media and email users from being censored based on the user’s expressed viewpoints, including by providing a legal remedy for those wrongfully excluded from a platform.”
- Funding for the legislative branch after Abbott vetoed its funding earlier this year.
- Family violence prevention legislation “requiring schools to provide appropriate education to middle- and high-school students about dating violence, domestic violence, and child abuse, but that recognizes the right of parents to opt their children out of the instruction.”
- Legislation baring transgender student athletes from competing on sports teams aligning with their gender identity.
- Legislation related to abortion-inducing drugs. Abbott is calling for legislation that prohibits “people from providing abortion-inducing drugs by mail or delivery service, strengthens the laws applicable to the reporting of abortions and abortion complications, and ensures that no abortion-inducing drugs are provided unless there is voluntary and informed consent.”
- Legislation for a 13th check under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
Legislation related to critical race theory.
Appropriations for property tax relief, “enhanced protection for the safety of children in Texas’ foster-care system by attracting and retaining private providers for the system,” and to protect the state against potential cybersecurity threats.
Bills “modifying the filing periods and related election dates, including any runoffs, for primary elections held in Texas in 2022.”
Legislation that limits the storage and transportation of high-level radioactive waste in Texas.
Bills “shielding private employers and employees from political subdivision rules, regulations, ordinances, and other actions that require any terms of employment that exceed or conflict with federal or state law relating to any form of employment leave, hiring practices, employment benefits, or scheduling practices.”
Bills related to legislative quorum requirements.
What’s the plan for Texas Democrats?
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, was tight lipped when asked about Democrats’ plan on a Thursday call with reporters.
“The thing about fighting as a minority the majority Republican Party in Texas, is that frequently our strategy must be kept secret,” Hinojosa said. “While I would love to share with all what we intend to do, unfortunately it would disadvantage our position. But I will say, this: We will fight this suppression session and the Republican effort to ... deny Texans access to their freedom of vote. We will fight that with as much vigor as we have to this point. … People will have to see how we do that in the coming days as events unfold.”
Fort Worth Democrat Ramon Romero, Jr. also shied away from details on the next steps for Texas Democrats.
“That’s an ongoing discussion with my Democratic colleagues on how to best move forward and approach this new special session,” he said in a text. He called the special session items a “divisive wish list of legislation that a Republican-controlled Legislature couldn’t find time to pass in the 87th Regular session.”
“To be abundantly clear, this is all about a lost presidential election, a failed Republican-controlled session and a soon-to-be failed presidential bid,” Romero said.
The Texas House Republican Caucus applauded Abbott’s agenda.
“We call on the Texas Democrats to put an end to their domestic and global jet setting, return to Texas, and do the job they were elected to do,” Chairman Jim Murphy, a Houston Republican, said in a statement.
On the Senate side, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement that the chamber will have a quorum and is ready to being its work “immediately.” Committee hearings will start this weekend and bills will be heard on the Senate floor in the coming week, he said.
“I look forward to a productive special session for the people of Texas,” Patrick said.
This story was originally published August 5, 2021 at 12:45 PM.
