Texas House Convenes For Special Session

The Texas House convenes this week for Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) Special Session. From education reform to flood recovery and abortion-related legislation, the session is expected to generate intense debate in an already divided Texas House.

The governor’s priorities include improving Texas’ flood infrastructure and emergency communication systems following deadly storms in July. Proposed legislation would fund relief for hard-hit Hill Country communities and seek long-term strategies to improve Texas’ natural disaster preparedness.

Education is another major focus. Governor Abbott is calling for the elimination of the STAAR test, the state’s standardized exam, in favor of alternative tools that better track student progress and hold schools accountable.

Lawmakers will also weigh property tax relief, one of Governor Abbott’s consistent legislative priorities. Proposals include reducing the property tax burden on Texans and imposing spending caps on local taxing entities.

On social policy, Governor Abbott is urging legislation to criminalize providing hemp-derived products to minors and impose new restrictions on the potency and regulation of such products. Additional bills aim to “protect women’s spaces,” further limit abortion access, and expand prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General over election-related crimes.

Other agenda items include banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, protecting human trafficking victims from prosecution for acts tied to their victimization, shielding law enforcement personnel records, and addressing deed fraud and title theft.

The governor also wants a new congressional redistricting plan following concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice. However, the effort has been met with criticism from Texas Democrats, who argue that Republicans are “trying to rig the system.”

During an interview shared on social media, state Rep. Gene Wu (D), the Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair, discussed the Special Session, warning that “[Republicans] know that they’re going to get smashed in the next election because they’re doing so many things that Americans across the board hate,” the Texas Democrat commented. “And instead of trying to do some good, instead of trying to turn back their policies, they’re going to cheat.”

Republicans like state Rep. Brian Harrison (R) have similarly been critical of the Texas House, calling for the legislature to address property tax concerns.

On social media, Governor Abbott reiterated that the Special Session will address property tax concerns, sharing that the Texas House will discuss legislation to cut property taxes as well as a bill that limits spending by government entities that impose property taxes.