Nine days after most Texas House Democrats fled the state to protest Republican efforts on redistricting, leaving the ongoing first Texas Legislative special session at a standstill, Gov. Greg Abbott has announced plans for a second special session.
This move on the Democrats’ part has drawn both praise and criticism across the nation; however, it also means no bills from the Texas House and Senate can be voted on and sent to the governor for his signature.
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The Texas House tried to gavel in with a quorum on Tuesday morning but was not able to achieve it. This led Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, to signal what the special session will look like moving forward.
“We will make one more attempt to convene with a quorum on Friday so we can address the issues that need to be addressed,” Burrows said. “If we still do not have quorum on Friday, the House and the Senate will sine die this session.”
This was backed by the President of the Texas Senate — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — who issued a statement that the Senate is looking to end the special session early.
“House Democrats have made their point and now face a choice,” reads Patrick’s statement. “They should return from their ‘vacation’ before Friday and pass the bills on the governor’s special session call. If not, the Texas Senate will adjourn Sine Die on Friday so Gov. Abbott can immediately call us back for another special session.”
Patrick concluded by stating the Senate will pass the bills on Abbott’s Special Session agenda, regardless of the number of special sessions required.
For context, under the Texas Constitution, the governor is given the authority to call lawmakers back to Austin for 30 days to address matters he determines need immediate addressing after a regularly scheduled session.
Abbott followed these comments from the House and Senate, saying he would immediately call lawmakers back for a Second Special session if they adjourn on Friday.
“The Special Session #2 agenda will have the exact same agenda, with the potential to add more items critical to Texans,” reads a statement from Abbott. “There will be no reprieve for the derelict Democrats who fled the state and abandoned their duty to the people who elected them.”
Dig Deeper: Texas Gov. Abbott adds flood, redistricting to Legislature’s special session agenda
The first Special Session agenda included bills related to relief for those impacted by the deadly July 4th flooding in central Texas, measures to strengthen Texas emergency readiness in the event of a natural disaster, and reforms to the state’s regulation of THC.
“I will continue to call special session after special session until we get this Texas first agenda passed,” Abbott said.
Mateo Rosiles is the Government & Public Policy reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gov. Abbott eyes 2nd Special Session for redistricting, flood bills
