- In total, Abbott signed 1,034 bills, allowed 105 bills to pass into law without his signature, and vetoed 20 bills.
- Total list of signed bills (Reference)
- Notable Second Amendment-related bills signed last week include:
SB 19 – State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R–Georgetown) – Prohibits a government entity from contracting with any business that discriminates against firearm and ammunition businesses or organizations. (Lt. Gov. Patrick Priority)
SB 20 – State Sen. Donna Campbell (R–New Braunfels) – Allows guests to store firearms in their hotel rooms. (Lt. Gov. Patrick Priority)
SB 550 – State Sen. Drew Springer (R–Muenster) – Removed the shoulder or belt holster requirements, allowing Texans to carry firearms in whichever holster they choose.
HB 957 – State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R–Cypress) – Repeals the criminal offense of possessing, manufacturing, transporting, or repairing a firearm silencer. It also ensures that any firearm suppressor manufactured in Texas—and that remains in Texas—will not be subject to federal law or federal regulation.
HB 1500 – State Rep. Cole Hefner (R–Mt. Pleasant) – Prevents any government entity from prohibiting the sale or transportation of firearms or ammunition during a declared disaster or emergency.
HB 1927 – State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler) – “Constitutional carry.” Law-abiding Texans can carry a handgun without a license to carry. (RPT Priority)
HB 2622 – State Rep. Justin Holland (R–Heath) – Makes Texas a “Second Amendment sanctuary state” by protecting Texans from new federal gun control regulations.
- Abbott also signed some of the remaining leadership priorities into law, including:
HB 5 – State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-–Lufkin) – Regulatory framework for the incentivized expansion of broadband services to rural and underserved areas of the state. (Gov. Abbott Emergency Priority)
SB 6 – State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R–North Richland Hills) – Business liability protections from COVID-19 or pandemic-related lawsuits. (Gov. Abbott Emergency Priority)
HB 4 – State Rep. Four Price (R–Amarillo) – Omnibus telemedicine/telehealth bill. (Speaker Phelan Priority)
- Abbott signed the “ban” on critical race theory but also released a statement saying more must be done, indicating that it would also be added to a special session agenda. This statement confused activists who support the ban; they are getting mixed messages,since Abbott said more could be done, but the bill’s author said it was the strongest ban in the country.
HB 3979 – State Rep. Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands) – Critical Race Theory “Ban”
- Abbott also signed the $248.5 billion budget for the next biennium (FY 2022-23) but “line-item” vetoed Article X (funding for the legislative branch, following through with a threat he made on Twitter a few weeks ago in response to Democrat House lawmakers busting quorum and ultimately killing two of his emergency legislative priorities in election integrity and bail reform).
- Abbott ultimately vetoed 20 bills, including: (Complete List)
HB 686 – State Rep. Joe Moody (D–El Paso) – Would have reformed criminal sentencing for juvenile offenders. (Veto statement) (Speaker Phelan Priority)
SB 281 – State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (D–McAllen) – Would have stopped the use of hypnosis in investigations. (Veto Statement) (Speaker Phelan Priority)
SB 474 – State Sen. Eddie Lucio (D–San Benito) – Would have added regulations on the use of dog tethers. (Veto Statement)
- Impending dates for at least two upcoming special sessions have not yet been revealed.
- Based on a series of statements by Gov. Abbott, we know the following issues will at least be on the call for one of the special sessions:
Redistricting
The allocation of more than $16 billion in COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government
Bail reform
Election integrity
Ban on critical race theory
Social media censorship protections
Restoration of Article X funding for the Legislature
- Additional details will likely be forthcoming in the next few days/weeks.
- Abbott announced few details on a plan to continue/construct a border wall between Texas and Mexico
- $250 million “down-payment” to begin construction and solicit a project manager through the Texas Facilities Commission
- Setup of a public website for private donations to support the wall construction
- Additional information will likely be made more clear in the next few weeks