The Texas legislature's third special session ended Tuesday morning, with both chambers adjourning after midnight.
The Texas House adjourned first, with Representatives James White and Yvonne Davis moving that the House adjourn in memory of Colin Powell. The movement passed with no objection.
"We've been in session several weeks. We're all very tired. I know we miss our families, our communities and our jobs," said Speaker Dade Phelan. "We all look forward to getting back to them very, very soon."
The Texas Senate then adjourned.
"I want to thank all of you," said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. "It's been a long session and session and session and session. We all recognize there are partisan differences from time to time. Every time there was, it was a respectful debate."
The legislature passed several priorities listed by the governor: Congressional maps drawn with information from the latest Census, an agreement on how to spend federal COVID relief funds, and an increase in the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $25,000 to $40,000.
The increase in the homestead exemption will need to be approved by voters as a constitutional amendment next May.
Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order October 11 banning vaccine mandates by any business in the state. He had also called on the legislature to pass a ban on vaccine requirements, but the legislature did not address the issue.
The legislature also did not address Abbott's call to increase the penalty for illegal voting.
Abbott has not said whether he would order a fourth special session, but leaders of both chambers indicated they did not expect to be called back to Austin again.
"For some of you, this marks the end of your experience in the Texas legislature," Phelan said. "For some of you, this is the beginning of your experience in the Texas legislature. I want to thank each of you for your hard work and your dedication and commitment to the Texas House. I know, together, we have made Texas a better place to live and to work and raise families. I know we will build on this success when bill filing starts in 13 months. That's not what you wanted to hear, right?"
"Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas," Sen. Donna Campbell said as she hit the gavel to end the session in the Senate.
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