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The first called special session of the 89th Texas Legislature began on July 21, 2025, with Governor Greg Abbott setting an ambitious 18-item agenda. Topics included flood preparedness, property tax reform, abortion pill enforcement, taxpayer-funded lobbying, redistricting, and more.
While the Senate advanced several bills, the House produced no final action. On August 4, House Democrats broke quorum to block mid-decade congressional redistricting, leaving the chamber unable to function. Both chambers adjourned on August 15, and Governor Abbott immediately called lawmakers back for a second special session.
This new session carried forward all 18 original agenda items, plus an additional focus on camp safety following the July 4 flood tragedy at Camp Mystic, where 27 children lost their lives. That brought the total to 19 items on the call.
First Agenda Expansion: August 21 Additions
On August 21, Abbott expanded the session’s call for the first time, just hours after the House passed a new congressional redistricting map. The update added three more items, raising the total to 22 agenda points:
- Quorum-break punishments: Legislation to establish penalties for lawmakers who intentionally absent themselves from a session, reflecting Abbott’s frustration with the earlier Democratic walkout.
- OTC Ivermectin: Legislation authorizing individuals to purchase Ivermectin at pharmacies, framed around themes of medical choice and access.
- Groundwater study: Legislation directing the Texas Water Development Board to study East Texas aquifers prior to issuing permits, highlighting local water concerns.
This marked a turning point in the session. Abbott’s additions blended hot-button political issues with more technical policy debates, underscoring both his frustration with quorum breaks and his responsiveness to grassroots concerns.
Second Agenda Expansion: August 25 Additions
On August 25, Governor Abbott issued another proclamation, further expanding the call to 24 total agenda items. Two new issues were added:
- Prohibiting same-day voter registration: Legislation to ensure Texans cannot register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day, a measure Abbott framed as a way to bolster election security.
- Law enforcement contracting and funding: Legislation authorizing contracts with sheriffs and constables for law enforcement services, and legislation addressing the appropriation or transfer of funds to or from law enforcement agencies.
These additions reflect Abbott’s continued focus on both election law and public safety, areas that have been recurring themes throughout his governorship.
The Full Agenda: 24 Items and Counting
The second special session began with 19 agenda items on August 15, expanded to 22 on August 21, and now stands at 24 items after Abbott’s August 25 proclamation.
Key issue areas now include:
- Flood preparedness and disaster relief
- Property tax reform and local spending limits
- Hemp product regulation
- Abortion pill enforcement
- Taxpayer-funded lobbying ban
- Human trafficking protections
- Law enforcement privacy and contracting
- Women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces
- Attorney General’s authority over election crimes
- Congressional redistricting
- Title theft and deed fraud prevention
- Water conservation measures and studies
- Judicial department reforms
- Camp safety standards
- Quorum-break punishments
- Access to Ivermectin
- Same-day voter registration prohibition
Political Takeaways
Abbott’s repeated expansions show a willingness to use the special session process not only to revisit unfinished priorities but also to highlight emerging political issues.
- Quorum-break punishments directly address the tactics used by Democrats earlier this summer.
- OTC Ivermectin and same-day voter registration prohibition highlight Abbott’s focus on liberty, health choice, and election security.
- Water and law enforcement measures show that the governor is balancing high-profile partisan issues with technical policy items tied to local concerns.
At the same time, the sheer size of the agenda, now at 24 items, raises questions about how much can realistically be accomplished within the 30-day window of a special session. The Senate has already advanced a majority of the listed items, while the House continues to navigate both political divides and time constraints.
Conclusion
The second special session of the 89th Texas Legislature has become one of the most wide-ranging in recent memory. Starting with 19 items, then expanding to 22, and now reaching 24, Governor Abbott’s call reflects both persistent priorities and new issues that have emerged during the summer’s legislative battles.
Whether lawmakers can deliver results on such an expansive agenda remains to be seen, but Abbott’s repeated updates underscore his determination to keep lawmakers in Austin and to broaden the scope of what Texans’ elected officials are asked to consider.
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