Special Session #1: The Texas Legislature is Back
The first special session of the 87th Texas Legislature opened Thursday, July 8 and may last up to 30 days. Issues to be considered are limited to those set by Governor Greg Abbott in his proclamation calling the special session.
Governor Abbott prioritized 11 issues including election and voter registration reform, bail system reform, protecting against social media “censorship,” prohibiting transgender students from competing in school sports, funding for border security, and further restricting teaching of critical racial theory.
Legislators will also appropriate funds for the Legislature and Legislative Agencies since the governor vetoed that article of the budget at the end of the session.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has pledged that the Senate will move quickly on these issues, and hearings are scheduled in several Senate committees beginning Friday, July 9.
Speaker of the House Dade Phelan created a Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies that is expected to hear bills on at least two of the sessions topics – voter and election law reform and changes to the bail process. The speaker stated in his press release, “The issues that the Legislature will be tasked with undertaking are by their very nature complex, and a select committee with expanded membership and expertise is the ideal forum for ensuring thoughtful consideration.”
TLA is actively monitoring bills filed during this special session. Our advocacy will be guided by our core values of intellectual freedom, diversity and inclusiveness, and equity of access to information.