Governor Greg Abbott has called a second special session of the Texas Legislature, beginning at noon on August 15, to address 19 agenda items. The session comes after a period in which House Democrats left the state, delaying legislative action.
“Delinquent House Democrats ran away from their responsibility to pass crucial legislation to benefit the lives of Texans,” Governor Abbott said. “Because of their dereliction of duty, Texas families and communities impacted by the catastrophic Fourth of July flooding have been delayed critical resources for relief and recovery. Numerous other bills to cut property taxes, support human trafficking survivors, eliminate the STAAR test, establish commonsense THC regulations, and many others have all been brought to a halt because because Democrats refuse to show up for work. We will not back down from this fight. That’s why I am calling them back today to finish the job. I will continue to use all necessary tools to ensure Texas delivers results for Texans.”
The agenda includes proposals focused on public safety, disaster preparedness and recovery, education reform, property tax reduction, regulation of hemp-derived products, protection for children and women’s spaces, as well as measures targeting lobbying practices and human trafficking victim protections.
Key items include efforts to improve early warning systems in flood-prone areas and strengthen emergency communications infrastructure across Texas. There is also proposed legislation for relief funding following storms that began in early July 2025.
Other issues slated for consideration are eliminating the STAAR standardized test in favor of alternative assessment methods; reducing property taxes; making it illegal to provide hemp-derived products to those under 21; regulating these products without imposing an outright ban; enhancing legal protections for unborn children; banning taxpayer-funded lobbying; shielding law enforcement personnel records concerning unsubstantiated complaints; protecting women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces; expanding Attorney General powers over election crime investigations; congressional redistricting plans; strengthening laws against title theft and deed fraud; incentivizing water conservation in new construction projects; and changes related to state judicial department operations.
The governor’s proclamation detailing these priorities can be viewed online.
