Governor Abbott issued a proclamation that identifies eleven agenda items for the Special Session. Special Session agenda items will include:
BAIL REFORM:
Legislation reforming the bail system in Texas to protect the public from accused criminals who may be released on bail.
ELECTION INTEGRITY:
Legislation strengthening the integrity of elections in Texas.
BORDER SECURITY:
Legislation providing funding to support law-enforcement agencies, counties, and other strategies as part of Texas’ comprehensive border security plan.
SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP:
Legislation safeguarding the freedom of speech by protecting social-media users from being censored by social media companies based on the user’s expressed viewpoints, including by providing a legal remedy for those wrongfully excluded from a platform.
ARTICLE X FUNDING:
Legislation providing appropriations to the Legislature and legislative agencies in Article X of the General Appropriations Act.
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION:
Legislation similar to Senate Bill 1109 from the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, requiring schools to provide appropriate education to middle- and highschool students about dating violence, domestic violence, and child abuse, but that recognizes the right of parents to opt their children out of the instruction.
YOUTH SPORTS:
Legislation identical to Senate Bill 29 as passed by the Texas Senate in the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, disallowing a student from competing in University Interscholastic League athletic competitions designated for the sex opposite to the student’s sex at birth.
ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS:
Legislation similar to Senate Bill 394 from the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, which prohibits people from providing abortion-inducing drugs by mail or delivery service, strengthens the laws applicable to the reporting of abortions and abortion complications, and ensures that no abortioninducing drugs are provided unless there is voluntary and informed consent.
THIRTEENTH CHECK:
Legislation similar to House Bill 3507 from the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, relating to a “thirteenth check” or one-time supplemental payment of benefits under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
CRITICAL RACE THEORY:
Legislation similar to House Bill 3979 concerning critical race theory as originally passed by the Texas Senate in the 87th Legislature, Regular Session.
APPROPRIATIONS:
Legislation providing appropriations from additional available general revenue for the following purposes: property-tax relief; enhanced protection for the safety of children in Texas’ foster-care system by attracting and retaining private providers for the system; and to better safeguard the state from potential cybersecurity threats
The Texas House immediately got to work on Thursday after convening the Special Session called by Governor Greg Abbott. Committees had a busy weekend of passing bills out so they could make their way to the House floor for consideration by the full House.
Unfortunately, this incredible work has stopped due to House Democrats fleeing the state on several private planes to Washington D.C. and breaking the quorum that allows us to do business in the Texas House.
That’s right — While it is our duty as legislators to show up, House Democrats walked off the job at hand and abandoned their obligations to represent you.
Democrats also walked out on:
• Retired teachers who will benefit greatly from a 13th check
• Foster kids who desperately need better protections and attention paid to the system that is failing them
• Senior citizens who are desperate for continued relief from rising property taxes
• Young Texas women who want the chance to compete on an even-playing field
• Scared families who are continuously let down by a bail system that creates revolving doors for violent criminal
• All of Texas, which wants to see a Texas Solution to the border crisis put into action instead of allowing drug smugglers and human traffickers to run rampant
Their actions show a clear lack of respect for the job their constituents elected them to do and we denounce their decision to flee the state to avoid taking votes on critical legislation that Texans desperately need and care about.
The Texas House passed a “call of the House” to secure the return of absent members until we have a quorum. The call will remain in effect until all action on the Governor’s proclamation calling us into special session is complete.
The legislative business at hand — helping our teachers, foster children, taxpayers, our border communities, and all Texans — is of the utmost importance to us. And Texas Republicans will be HERE, confined in the House chamber – doing the job that Texans elected us to do until the job is done.
The Speaker announced he is holding the democrats accountable for failure to work on election integrity, reducing your property taxes and providing a 13th check for our retired teachers. Speaker Phelan has removed Joe Moody from his Speaker pro tem position and called for the democrats to return their legislative per diem for the days they refuse to work.
On day five of the Texas Democrats breaking quorum, I joined my Republican colleagues to hold a briefing on House Bill 3, the chamber’s election integrity legislation, which will make it easier to vote and harder to cheat in the State of Texas. House Bill 3 will expand early voting hours for the vast majority of Texas voters and ensure uniformity in the election process following the inconsistent voting protocols that occurred during COVID-19.
While Democrats continue to vacation in D.C., Re publicans will be working on the issues that matter most to Texans, including election integrity, which will ensure that every eligible voter is able to freely cast their ballot!
Great to be with members of the TRTA (Texas Retired Teachers Association) to discuss legislation providing a much-needed 13th check to Texas retired teachers. I look forward to voting for HB 85 and supporting our hard-working educators once enough democrats show back up to work!
Honored to join Governor Abbott at the signing of Religious Freedom bills SJR 27, HB 1239, SB 581, and HB 525 into law. I was proud to support and co-author these bills ensuring that the right to worship will not be impeded!
Joined Governor Abbott at the signing of House Bill 5 into law, expanding access and connection for broadband across Texas! House Bill 5 creates a Statewide Broadband Development Office and a state broadband plan, targeting lacking areas to receive the necessary infrastructure and support.
Honored to be the Grand Marshall of Kaufman’s Red, White & Boom Parade! Good to catch up with several of our countywide elected’s. Thanks to Anne Glasscock, Jeff Jordan and Sheriff Bryan Beavers for the ride!
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.