Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session of the Texas Legislature to begin on July 21, 2025, to address unresolved priorities from the regular session as well as urgent needs following the deadly July 4th floods in the Hill Country. The session may last up to 30 days.
Key Topics on the Agenda
- Flood Relief & Emergency Preparedness: Lawmakers will address improvements to emergency communications, early warning systems, and infrastructure funding following the recent floods.
- Redistricting: A potential mid-decade redraw of congressional districts is underway. Cited are the U.S. Justice Department’s recent letter questioning Texas’ current map.
- THC & Hemp Regulation: Proposed legislation will establish statewide rules for consumable hemp-derived THC products, including labeling, age limits, and packaging requirements.
- STAAR Test Reform: Reform or replacement of the current STAAR standardized testing system is on the table, with HB 92 as a key proposal.
- Social Legislation: New bills include:
- A “bathroom bill” requiring public facilities be used based on sex assigned at birth.
- Criminalization of “gender identity fraud” and legal definitions of “man” and “woman”.
- Abortion Restrictions: Bills to restrict dangerous abortion-inducing drugs and explore constitutional amendments regarding abortion.
- Other Topics: Property tax limitations, property tax payment reforms, bans on taxpayer-funded lobbying, and compensation adjustments for public employees are also on the docket.
Conclusion
The special session is poised to be one of the most exciting in recent years. With 18 topics on the agenda, the legislature will be balancing disaster response, election strategy, education reform, and social legislation—all under a national spotlight.