Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a proclamation detailing 18 agenda items for the upcoming Special Session, which is set to begin at noon on Monday, July 21. This session follows the 89th Regular Legislative Session and aims to address further legislative needs.

"We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come," said Governor Abbott. "There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future."

The agenda includes several key areas:

- Flood warning systems: Legislation to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

- Flood emergency communications: Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and other response infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

- Relief funding for Hill Country floods: Legislation to provide relief funding for response to and recovery from storms that began in early July 2025, including local match funding for jurisdictions eligible for FEMA public assistance.

- Natural disaster preparation & recovery: Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters.

- Eliminate STAAR test: Legislation to eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with effective tools to assess student progress and ensure school district accountability.

- Cut property taxes: Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.

- Protect children from THC: Legislation making it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to children under 21 years of age.

- Regulate hemp-derived products: Comprehensive regulation of hemp-derived products without banning lawful agricultural commodities.

- Protect unborn children: Further protection against abortion-related harm.

- Ban taxpayer-funded lobbying: Prohibition of taxpayer-funded lobbying activities.

- Protect human trafficking victims: Protection from criminal liability for non-violent acts related to victimization.

- Police personnel records: Protection against public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints.

- Protect women’s spaces: Protection of privacy in sex-segregated spaces.

- Attorney General election powers: Constitutional amendment proposal regarding state election crimes prosecution by the Attorney General.

- Redistricting: Revised congressional redistricting plan addressing U.S. Department of Justice concerns.

- Title theft & deed fraud: Strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud.

- Water project incentives: Authorization for political subdivisions concerning water conservation measures by builders.

- State Judicial Department operation & administration legislation.

For more details, view Governor Abbott's special session proclamation.