At 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, state Rep. J.M. Lozano (R-Portland) begins what could be a contentious stint on the newly appointed Constitutional Rights & Remedies, Select Committee. Appointed by Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, the 15-member committee is holding a public hearing Saturday on proposed changes to voting and elections contained in Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3. Elections and bail reform are two of 11 items on the agenda for the Texas Legislature's special session, which began Thursday, July 8. 
The speaker created the committee to study the constitutionality of issues submitted by Gov. Greg Abbott for the House’s consideration during the session. The committee will vet most of the bills before they are debated on the House floor.
Provisions of the two election bills include banning drive-through voting from inside a vehicle and overnight voting; installing tracking software in vote counting; and boosting ID requirements. The bills also allow for video surveillance in counties with more than 100,000 residents and added protection of partisan poll watchers.  Among the 11 items proposed by the governor for consideration during the special session are bail reform, election integrity, border security, family violence protection, a 13th annual paycheck for retired teachers, limiting transgender participation in youth sports, and appropriations. 
Lozano, who serves Texas House District 43, which includes San Patricio, Bee, Jim Wells, and Kleberg counties, said the committee is composed of members from across the state who bring different strengths and perspectives. He is particularly interested in teacher compensation and property tax reform.
“As a longtime advocate for public education, I couldn't be happier that we are providing additional resources, a 13th check, to our retired teachers,” he told Corpus Christi Business News. “I am vice chair of the public education committee and previous chair of the higher education committee, so I know how hard our retired educators worked. Quite frankly, the success we have as a state is largely due to their efforts in creating a strong, educated workforce. So, to supplement their modest pensions with a one-time bonus is long overdue but very well deserved.”
Lozano also noted that many Texans are struggling with their property tax bills this year. 
“I talk with people all the time who have outrageous appraisals, so it is important that we are tackling that issue,” he said. “The governor has the right to add additional items to his call, and, so, any number of other issues could pop up in the next 30 days.”
Gov. Abbott is allowed by the constitution to call a special session of no more than 30 days and to set the agenda. Another special session is expected to be called sometime in the fall to take up redistricting. State Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) has been appointed by the speaker as chairman of the redistricting committee. Redistricting work is taking place later in the year than usual due to delays in receiving U.S. Census Bureau calculations.