Note: Content below was posted and current as of July 15
By Lauren Fairbanks and J Pete Laney
TAD Governmental Relations
Following the recent tragic events in the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott put flood- and disaster-related relief on the agenda for the Texas Legislature’s 30-day special session, which starts July 21.
Abbott announced his intention to call a special session on June 22, the deadline for him to veto or pass legislation from the regular legislative session. Several measures that were vetoed were the initial premise for calling a special session, though the scope was widened, per the official agenda. It currently includes 18 items:
- 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 the storms which 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 legislation 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: Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.
- PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN: Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion.
- BAN TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING: Legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded lobbying, including the use of tax dollars to hire lobbyists and payment of tax dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature.
- PROTECT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1278 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that protects victims of human trafficking from criminal liability for non-violent acts closely tied to their own victimization.
- POLICE PERSONNEL RECORDS: Legislation that protects law enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel files.
- PROTECT WOMEN’S SPACES: Legislation protecting women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces.
- ATTORNEY GENERAL ELECTION POWERS: Legislation proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the Attorney General to prosecute state election crimes.
- REDISTRICTING: Legislation that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- TITLE THEFT & DEED FRAUD: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 648 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that provides strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud.
- WATER PROJECT INCENTIVES: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1253 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that authorizes political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures.
- STATE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 2878 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, relating to the operation and administration of the Judicial Department of state government.
Your TAD team will be closely monitoring the special session. Unlike regular sessions, special sessions have a narrow focus. The Texas Constitution limits the Legislature to topics the Governor designates. The governor can expand the agenda at any time.
As part of the upcoming special session, House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick each announced the creation of a Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding in their chambers. Both chambers’ select committees will meet jointly to examine the following items on the governor’s special session call:
- Flood warning systems
- Flood emergency communications
- Relief funding for Hill Country floods
- Natural disaster preparation and recovery
The first hearing will take place July 23 at the Capitol. The second hearing will take place July 31 in Kerrville to give residents an opportunity to have their voices heard. The date of that hearing will be announced soon.
The Speaker and Lieutenant Governor will each appoint nine members to their chambers’ select committee. Speaker Burrows has not yet appointed members to the House Committee. The Senate Committee will be chaired by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock). Other members are listed here.
Retirements and political maneuverings
As has become typical in recent years, several retirement announcements have been made after the Texas Legislature adjourned June 2. Additionally, there has been some movement at the top of the ballot which we haven’t seen in quite some time.
Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), a 12-year veteran of the Texas Senate, was named as acting state comptroller, taking over for Comptroller Glenn Hegar when he became the new chancellor of the Texas A&M University System on July 1. Immediately following his appointment, Hancock also became a candidate in the 2026 Republican primary for the statewide elected position. Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines are also running in the Republican primary to fill the vacant seat.
Ahead of his appointment, Hancock had to formally resign as a member of the Texas Senate. Abbott has set Nov. 4 as the special election date for the Texas Senate District 9 seat. Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth), who was expected to throw his hat in the ring, dropped his bid and endorsed conservative Leigh Wambsganss, a new entrant in the race. Wambsganss, a former congressional staffer and longtime member of the Tarrant County GOP Executive Committee, won a crucial endorsement from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick just minutes after her campaign announcement.
The Texas Senate will have other open seats to fill in the 2026 election. Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) will not seek reelection. The longest-serving Republican in the Texas Senate, he will retire when his term expires at the end of 2026. Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) also announced his intention to retire at the end of his term. He has served since 2010. Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) announced he will not seek another term in the Texas Senate and has instead set his sights on the open Attorney General seat, which is being vacated by Ken Paxton (R), as he runs against incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R).
Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) has also announced she is running for attorney general. Huffman is a former judge who spent 13 years as an assistant district attorney in Harris County before her career in the Legislature. Huffman is not up for reelection until 2028, so she does not need to give up her Senate seat if she fails to win the Republican nomination for AG in the 2026 primary election.
The House also already has several open seats. Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) was the first to announce his retirement after six terms in the Legislature. He will run for Tarrant County Commissioner. Additionally, Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) will seek higher office, announcing his intent to run for the Texas Senate in the seat that will be vacated by Nichols. Other announcements include: Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin), who will run for lieutenant governor; Rep. Dennis Paul (R-Houston), who will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Middleton; Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield), who will run for the seat being vacated by Birdwell; Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-Houston), who is running for U.S. Congress in Texas’ 18th District; and Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands), who is running for U.S. Congress in Texas’ 2nd District against Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-Atascocita).
More unconfirmed rumors are swirling, with many more announcements expected in the coming months.
