Gov. Greg Abbott called the Texas Legislature back to Austin for a second special session this summer after House Democrats left the state in opposition to proposed election reform in July.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation on Aug. 4 calling for a second special session of the 87th Legislature to convene in Austin beginning at noon Saturday, Aug. 7, the day after the first special session ends. The Legislature ended its regular session May 31.
Among the 17 items on the agenda are the governor's call for bail and election reforms, banning transgender students from competing in school athletics, abortion restrictions, appropriation of federal relief funds, and family violence education in middle and high school.
Since the first overtime session was called and did not convene due to Democrats leaving the state to break quorum, six items were added to the agenda, including one to revise quorum requirements. Among the items added were federal relief appropriations for unused COVID-19 funds and legislation banning mandatory mask requirements or mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.
"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,” Abbott said in a statement.
House Democrats flew to Washington, D.C., in July at the start of the first special session in protest of legislation they said would restrict rather than protect voting. By leaving the state, they broke quorum on the last day of the 87th Legislature, preventing passage of the bill. Since arrival in Washington, the Democrats have lobbied Congress to pass federal election protections that would override anything approved on the state level.
Corpus Christi state Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) is undaunted by the politics in play with repeat special sessions.
“The newly called 30-day special session will be hardworking and comprehensive,” he told Corpus Christi Business News. “We will keep our area posted.”
He also commented on the recent vote by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to submit a request to the Texas Department of Insurance to increase wind insurance rates by 5 percent.
“This will also give us an opportunity to have a legislative hearing/meeting on TWIA and windstorm issues,” he said. “I plan to be in attendance in Austin.”
Coastal Bend state Rep. J.M. Lozano (R-Portland) will lead a tough battle as a member of the Constitutional Rights & Remedies Select Committee. Its mission is to study the constitutionality of issues submitted by Abbott for the House’s consideration during the special session, in particular, Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3. These two bills are among the most controversial of the agenda items regarding changes to voting laws.
Another issue to address by year's end is redistricting in Texas. The endeavor will determine new lines for the 2022 mid-term elections. Rep. Hunter chairs the redistricting committee. Due to delays in receiving U.S. Census Bureau calculations, the work was delayed. Another special session focused on redistricting is expected in the fall.
