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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a third special legislative session, and there are five agenda items.
The third session will begin on Monday, Sept. 20. Some of the major points of discussion will be the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions on transgender student athletes and redistricting.
"Announcing the third special legislative session, which will convene on Monday, Sept. 20," Abbott tweeted.
The second special session had ended on Sept. 2, where several important issues were addressed. This included family violence prevention, border security, election integrity, virtual learning expansion, bail reform and "13th check" for retired teachers.
"I encourage constituents to continue to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns regarding the upcoming special session," Rep. Ernest Bailes said, according to Blue Bonnet News.
The governor has also called upon lawmakers to take another go at a bill he had previously rejected this year. The bill was meant to protect dogs from dangerous restraints. However, Abbott felt that it tried to "micromanage" the dog owners of Texas.
"The Texas Legislature now has the opportunity to redraw legislative and congressional districts in accordance with the new census numbers. In addition to redistricting, there are still issues remaining that are critical to building a stronger and brighter future for all Texans," Abbott said in a statement on Sept. 7.
Among the five major items on the agenda, the most important one is redistricting.
Abbott has also asked lawmakers to take up the bills on restrictions for transgender student athletes and the allocation of $16 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds. These bills are very likely to turn up the heat in this session. Abbott was sued in federal court by two Democratic state lawmakers on the ground of adding redistricting as an agenda in the special session because it violates the Texas Constitution.
With this third special session, it will be the fourth time that the legislators convene in Austin.