Texas lawmakers face a packed agenda as they reconvene for a special 30-day legislative session on Monday, with high-stakes debates and urgent disaster relief at the top of Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of priorities.
Abbott has summoned legislators back to Austin with an 18-item agenda, led by emergency response to catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country, new regulations for THC products, and a court-mandated redistricting plan.
This special session began at noon and can last up to 30 days under the Texas Constitution, with the governor being the only legislator who has control over the topics discussed.
However, the governor is also permitted to call multiple special sessions to address certain issues, as evidenced by the multiple sessions called by Abbott in both 2021 and 2023.
Flood-related legislation is expected to receive early focus during this year’s special session, following July storms that caused more than 100 deaths in Kerr County and swept across Central Texas, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Lawmakers are tasked with approving new and improved flood warning systems, enhanced emergency communication infrastructure, and a relief funding package that includes local match funding to support federal disaster aid, according to Fox 4 News.
Other headline items move beyond disaster recovery.
Lawmakers are set to revisit the regulation of hemp-derived THC products, after a push to ban the sale of these items failed during the regular session, as reported by DX.
Proposals now aim to limit potency, restrict certain synthetic compounds, and establish enforcement mechanisms without fully outlawing legal hemp products.
Abbott has also called for legislation that will make it a crime to provide these products to anyone under the age of 21.
The most contentious issue discussed during this session could quickly become the state’s redistricting.
This focus follows a seemingly direct request from the Trump administration for the state to redistrict, which could help the Republican Party secure up to five additional seats in the House of Representatives, according to CBS News.
Although these are the topics expected to be among the most debated, many discussions will also be held about other issues outlined by the governor.
The remaining topics, as determined by the governor, are available here.