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The first called special session of the 89th Texas Legislature began on July 21, 2025, with an 18-item agenda set by Governor Greg Abbott (R). The call included legislation on flood preparedness, disaster relief, property tax reform, hemp regulation, abortion pill enforcement, taxpayer-funded lobbying, redistricting, and more.
While the Texas Senate advanced several measures, the Texas House of Representatives did not take up or pass a single bill. On August 4, a majority of House Democrats broke quorum to prevent consideration of legislation related to mid-decade congressional redistricting. With the House unable to act, the session produced no final results.
On Friday, August 15, five days before what would have been the forced conclusion of the session, both chambers voted to adjourn sine die, formally bringing the session to a close.
Governor Abbott Calls Second Special Session
Just hours after adjournment, Governor Abbott issued a proclamation calling a second special session of the Legislature. The agenda largely mirrors the first session’s call, keeping all 18 items and adding one new issue: camp safety, in response to the July 4 flood disaster at Camp Mystic, where 27 children lost their lives.
Full Agenda for the Second Special Session (19 Items)
- Legislation to improve early warning systems and preparedness infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
- Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and response infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
- Legislation to provide relief funding for response to and recovery from the July 2025 storms, including local FEMA match funding.
- Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations related to disaster preparedness and recovery.
- Legislation to eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with effective accountability tools.
- Legislation to reduce the property tax burden on Texans and impose spending limits on local taxing entities.
- Legislation to make it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to individuals under 21 years of age.
- Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including potency limits, restrictions on synthetics, and enforcement mechanisms.
- Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion-inducing drugs.
- Legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded lobbying, including both contract lobbyists and lobbying associations.
- Legislation similar to SB 1278 to protect human trafficking victims from criminal liability for certain non-violent acts.
- Legislation protecting law enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel files.
- Legislation protecting women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms.
- Legislation proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the Attorney General to prosecute state election crimes.
- Legislation to provide a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Legislation similar to SB 648 to strengthen protections against title theft and deed fraud.
- Legislation similar to SB 1253 to allow political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures.
- Legislation similar to SB 2878 relating to the operation and administration of the Judicial Department of state government.
- Legislation relating to camp safety, in response to the Camp Mystic tragedy during the July 4 flood disaster.
Conclusion
The first special session ended without legislative action after a quorum break in the Texas House of Representatives halted proceedings. The second special session, which began on August 15, carries forward the same agenda with the addition of camp safety. Whether this session produces results remains uncertain, as lawmakers face the same challenges that stalled the first.
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