Gov. Greg Abbott has expanded the agenda for a special legislative session, set to start at noon on July 21, to address the recent deadly flooding in Texas.
Following the disaster, which began on July 4, Abbott issued a proclamation on July 9 to add four flood-related priorities to the 18-item list for lawmakers.
“We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come,” Abbott said. “There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future.”
The flood-focused items include legislation to enhance early warning systems and preparedness infrastructure, strengthen emergency communications and response capabilities, provide relief funding for Hill Country recovery — including local matches for FEMA aid — and streamline rules for natural disaster preparation and recovery.
Other agenda topics range widely, from eliminating the STAAR test and cutting property taxes to regulating hemp products, protecting unborn children, and banning taxpayer-funded lobbying. Additional measures address human trafficking victim protections, police personnel records, women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces, and a constitutional amendment to empower the Attorney General to prosecute election crimes.
The list also includes redistricting revisions, anti-title theft laws, water conservation incentives, and reforms to the judicial department.
The session will tackle these issues as Texas recovers from the flooding’s impact.