Governor Greg Abbott has officially called Texas lawmakers back to Austin for a special legislative session beginning July 21, with a sweeping agenda that includes a direct response to the catastrophic flooding that devastated Central Texas earlier this month.
Among the 18 items on his agenda, flood mitigation and emergency preparedness top the list - reflecting the urgent calls from local leaders and grieving families after at least 120 deaths and dozens still missing in the Hill Country. The governor is pushing for funding to expand early warning systems, improve emergency communications, and streamline disaster response across the state.
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“Texans deserve to know help is coming before it's too late,” Abbott said in a statement. “We must act decisively and quickly to ensure we’re never caught off guard again.”
The session will also cover redistricting, property tax cuts, regulation of THC-infused products, and stricter laws around abortion pill access and border security. But storm resilience is expected to dominate the conversation after Abbott faced criticism for dismissing questions about accountability during a press conference, referring to blame as “the word choice of losers.”
State lawmakers from both parties have signaled support for improving flood preparedness, especially in rural areas that lack sirens or basic infrastructure to warn residents. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is expected to testify early in the session with recommendations on technology upgrades and interagency coordination.
The special session is expected to last up to 30 days, though Abbott has not ruled out calling lawmakers back again if major issues remain unresolved.
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