Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stated that he will continue to call special legislative sessions until House Democrats return to Austin. The Democrats left the state in an effort to prevent a quorum and block consideration of a mid-decade redistricting map. In his statement Tuesday, Abbott said, “I will continue to call special session after special session until we get this Texas First agenda passed.” Under the Texas Constitution, the governor can call unlimited 30-day sessions.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also commented on the situation. “Let me be clear: the Texas Senate will pass the bills on Gov. Abbott’s special session call over, and over, and over again until the House Democrats return from their ‘vacation’ to do the people’s business,” Patrick said.
On Tuesday, only 95 members were present in the House, five short of the 100 required for a quorum. House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that if a quorum is not reached by Friday, he will adjourn and immediately begin a second called session of the 89th Legislature. “The second session is coming,” Burrows said from the House rostrum. “It is time to get home and take your seats.”
Meanwhile, as promised by Patrick, the Senate continued work on its agenda starting with SB 4, a redistricting bill authored by Senator Phil King of Weatherford. The bill aims to increase Republican-held seats in Texas’ US House delegation from 25-13 to 30-8. King noted that no race-based data was used in drawing the map and asserted it complies with voting laws. The measure passed 19-2 after nine of eleven Senate Democrats walked out in protest.
Other legislation approved by the Senate included SB 6 by Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola, which would allow lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of medical abortion pills within Texas. SB 14, also by King, would exempt certain law enforcement records from open records requests.
A flood relief package was also passed through three bills. SB 1 by Senator Charles Perry of Lubbock requires summer camps in flood-prone areas to have evacuation plans and calls for improved coordination among public safety agencies during floods. It mandates emergency management training for county officials and clarifies lines of authority during emergencies.
SB 2 by Senator Paul Bettencourt places responsibility on the Texas Water Development Board for identifying flood-prone areas and mandates installation of warning sirens there; cities and counties will maintain these systems using state funds.
SB 3 by Senator Joan Huffman establishes a $50 million grant program for siren installations and allocates $200 million in relief funds intended to secure additional federal funding. Other allocations include $24 million for improved weather forecasting systems and $20 million for a new swift water rescue training center—all funded from Texas’ Rainy Day Fund.
If no quorum is achieved in the House on Friday, all pending bills will expire when adjournment occurs. Abbott has indicated he will reintroduce these measures during any subsequent special session so lawmakers may reconsider them.
