Special legislative session kicks off Monday in Austin

A special session for Texas’ 89^th Legislature begins Monday, July 21, at the state Capitol in Austin.

According to information on the Texas State Law Library’s website, a special session is called by the governor and has a narrow scope. Basically, the governor sets the agenda of what can be discussed, and Gov. Greg Abbott released his list on July 9.

The agenda items include:

• emergency preparedness and related measures stemming from the Hill Country floods over the July 4 weekend

• STAAR test elimination

• property tax cuts

• hemp and THC-type products regulation

• additional anti-abortion measures

• banning taxpayer-funded lobbying

• protections for human trafficking victims, certain police personnel records, and women’s spaces

• protection against title theft and deed fraud

• extending attorney general powers relating to elections

• congressional redistricting

• water project incentives

• operation and administration of the state’s Judicial Department

Several of the above agenda items relate to bills passed during the 89^th Legislature’s regular session but subsequently vetoed by Abbott.

As of Friday, July 18, Senate members had filed 15 bills, of which none were by Ellis County’s two senators: Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who represents roughly the western part of the county, and Bob Hall, R-Rockwall, who represents the eastern portion of the county.

House members have filed 133 bills to date, of which Ellis County’s state representative, Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, has filed 10. (See related press release).

The special session runs through Aug. 19, unless adjourned earlier.

For more information on the special session, visit Texas Legislature Online.