In just a matter of days, Texas senators are tackling Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities once again as the Texas House returns to regular business. This comes after a two-week quorum break by House Democrats during the first special session.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick commended the Texas Senate late Tuesday for advancing nearly all of the bills on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the ongoing second special session.
“The Senate passed all 18 bills on Gov. Abbott’s call in the first special session and is on track to do it again,” Patrick stated. “The Texas Senate once again proved we can deliver real results for the people of Texas.”
Patrick highlighted the passage of legislation dealing with disaster preparedness and the July 4th flood recovery, protecting women’s spaces, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, and property tax relief.
The lieutenant governor also noted the shift in House activity, stating, “Finally, the House Democrats have shown up. I look forward to receiving legislation from the House in the coming days. Texans expect their elected officials to stay in the state and get the job done, rather than fleeing to other states just because they oppose a particular bill.”
Bills passed by the Texas Senate this week:
- Senate Bill 2: Natural disaster preparation and recovery
- Senate Bill 3: Flood emergency communications and warning
- Senate Bill 5: Relief funding for Hill Country
- Senate Bill 6: Banning THC
- Senate Bill 8: Protecting women’s spaces
- Senate Bill 10: Cutting property taxes
- Senate Bill 11: Protecting human trafficking victims
- Senate Bill 12: Attorney general authority to prosecute election crimes
- Senate Bill 13: Banning taxpayer-funded lobbying
- Senate Bill 14: Water project incentives
- Senate Bill 15: Police personnel records
- Senate Bill 16: Stopping title theft and deed fraud
- Senate Bill 18: Maintaining Texas dams
Four remaining bills—covering redistricting, banning the STAAR test, prohibiting abortion drugs, and state judicial reforms—will originate in the House before moving to the Senate.
The House is slated to meet today to take a first vote on congressional redistricting. If approved, the House could pass the legislation in a final vote on Thursday.
The Senate is scheduled to meet again Thursday at 7 p.m.
Patrick signaled the Senate’s readiness to keep at its work: “The Senate will continue to advance the people’s business, no matter how many special sessions it takes.”
