Texas lawmakers were invited back for a special session by Governor Greg Abbott, and they will meet again at the Capitol on July 21.
Based on measures he vetoed in June during the 89th regular legislative session, Abbott listed six priorities for the session. Abbott also added flood response to the agenda on Sunday in reaction to the devastating floods that occurred at Camp Mystic and in Kerr County.
During a news conference on Sunday, Abbott stated that it would be beneficial to have a session where all members collaborated. The requirements in that particular river basin may differ significantly from those in other river basins around the state.
Regular sessions are different from special sessions in a number of ways. Bills can be passed right away, unlike regular sessions that require a 60-day waiting period, and can run no more than 30 days as opposed to a regular session’s 140 days. Additionally, the agendas for special sessions are more constrained, allowing parliamentarians to only discuss matters that the governor designates. In contrast to the thousands of bills that are often filed during a regular session, lawmakers have concentrated on an average of 10 themes per special session since Abbott started calling them in 2017.
Texas Senate Bill 3, which sought to outlaw recreational tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, goods such as gummies and vape pens, will be a major topic of discussion. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick prioritized the bill, but Abbott vetoed it because he was worried it would violate federal law. Instead, Abbott demanded that THC products be subject to regulations.
Other bills that were vetoed will also be reviewed by lawmakers. One attempted to improve safeguards against deed fraud and land title theft, while another sought to lower fees for builders that prioritized water conservation. Both were vetoed by Abbott, who claimed that some builders and landowners would find them excessively restrictive.
A bill to create legal safeguards for those who commit crimes while being trafficked will also be discussed by lawmakers. Abbott vetoed the bill because he believed its provisions were too expansive.
Lastly, rules for cement kilns close to semiconductor plants and judicial reforms will be discussed by MPs.
In a statement, Abbott said, “We worked with the Texas Legislature to deliver results that will benefit Texans for generations to come.” Massive progress has been made in this session, but we can yet do more.
