Last Week in the Legislature

By Linda Messing
Coordinator, Government Affairs

July 9, 2021 

A special session of the Texas Legislature was convened on Thursday, July 8, with Governor Greg Abbott issuing its call just one day before.

By gubernatorial proclamation, the legislature must prioritize these issues during the special session:

• bail reform
• election integrity
• border security
• social media censorship
• legislative appropriations
• participation rules for transgender student athletes
• access to abortion medication
• payments from the Teacher Retirement System
• critical race theory
• family violence education

Fortification of the state’s electricity infrastructure was notably absent from the governor’s call.

The special session can last as long as 30 days, but it comes at a cost to taxpayers, with estimates falling in the $1 million dollar range for the full 30 days.

The Texas Tribune offers a comprehensive preview of the special session here.