Just hours after the first special session ended, Governor Greg Abbott immediately convened a second one, gaveling in both chambers at noon on Friday, August 15.
The agenda remains largely the same, with redistricting front and center, but this round also includes a new focus on youth camp safety following the July flood that killed 27 children at Camp Mystic.
Abbott’s call includes several other priorities. Lawmakers are expected to debate flood preparedness measures such as early warning systems and improved emergency communications, while also considering disaster relief funds for communities hit by summer storms. Education reforms, including plans to phase out the STAAR testing system, are on the list, along with restrictions on THC in consumable products, tax relief measures, and limits on lobbying.
The political battle over redistricting remains the defining issue. Republicans are pushing a congressional map that could net them up to five additional U.S. House seats, while Democrats have continued their quorum-denial strategy by leaving the state. House Speaker Dustin Burrows has warned members to stay close to Austin, saying he expects lawmakers to return by Monday to resume business.
The fight has spilled beyond the Capitol. Protests under the banner “Fight the Trump Takeover” have spread across Texas and into other states, spotlighting the national stakes of mid-decade redistricting. At the same time, Attorney General Ken Paxton has escalated tensions by calling for Beto O’Rourke to be jailed over alleged violations of a court order tied to fundraising for absent Democrats.
For now, the Legislature has 30 days to complete its work, and with redistricting, flood safety, and cultural flashpoints all in the mix, the second special session is shaping up to be as contentious as the first.
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