Special Session
Governor Abbott issued a proclamation for a third special session yesterday, calling legislators back to the Capitol on Monday, October 9. The primary issue he intends to direct lawmakers to address is school vouchers. Related legislation failed to pass the House during the regular session. The agenda items on the governor's call are as follows:
- Legislation providing education savings accounts for all Texas schoolchildren.
- Legislation to do more to reduce illegal immigration by creating a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation and authorizing all licensed peace officers to remove illegal immigrants from Texas.
- Legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by increasing the penalties for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house.
- Legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by providing more funding for the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure.
- Legislation concerning public safety, security, environmental quality, and property ownership in areas like the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County, Texas.
- Legislation prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers.
The governor has stated he will call multiple special sessions, if necessary, to get a bill to his desk. As an added incentive to legislators, the governor has indicated he will expand the call to include additional public education, including increased funding and a teacher pay raise, once a voucher program is passed. Bill filing for the special session will begin today at noon.
Tensions Rising
Relations between the House and Senate leadership were notably strained at the end of the 88th regular session. Tensions between the two chambers worsened through the first two called special sessions required to pass much-anticipated property tax relief, and perhaps have reached their peak on the heels of the impeachment trial as we prepare for a voucher fight next week. Fatigue has likely set in for many legislators who have spent far beyond the 140 days that were scheduled for the regular session. House members have been in their home district since the end of the second called session once property tax relief passed in mid-July. Senators experienced a short reprieve before returning to Austin in early September for a grueling impeachment trial that resulted in the acquittal of Texas AG Ken Paxton on September 16. Less than a month following their most recent activity, legislators will return to work. With campaigns well underway, many legislators will be in North Texas for the Texas vs. OU football game to fundraise this weekend. Back in Austin, the popular ACL Music Festival begins today and runs through next weekend. Between festival-goers and disgruntled legislators, Austin will be overrun with activity during the first week of the third special session, which begs the question of which will be more difficult: finding a hotel room or passing a bill in Austin?
Comptroller Hegar Releases 2024-25 Certification Revenue Estimate
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a 2024-25 Certification Revenue Estimate that now expects $194.57 billion in revenue available for general spending in 2024-25, up 24.8% from the 2022-23 biennium. This revenue will support the $176.28 billion in general-purpose spending called for by the 88th Legislature, plus a projected $18.29 billion balance available for fiscal 2025. Special thanks to our partners at Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) for providing this financial report.
Upcoming Elections
The November 7th Constitutional Amendment Election will have fourteen propositions for voters to consider. The Secretary of State's website has a link to the explanatory statements for each of the fourteen propositions. Early voting begins Monday, October 23 and runs through Friday, November 3. Voters in House District 2 will also have a special election on November 7 to fill the vacancy in the seat previously occupied by former State Representative Bryan Slaton, who was expelled by the House in May. There are six candidates on the ballot, including five Republicans and one Democrat. The runoff election, if necessary, will be held December 9.
The filing period for the March 2024 primary election opens November 11 and ends December 11. Eleven House members have already announced their plans to retire from the legislature including two who are vying for the same North Texas Congressional seat: Rhetta Bowers and Julie Johnson have both announced their campaigns for the Congressional seat currently held by Colin Allred who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate. Representative Carl Sherman is also giving up his House seat to seek the Democratic nomination for the United State Senate. Other House members not seeking reelection include Doc Anderson, Abel Herrero, Tracy King, Lina Ortega, Four Price, John Raney, Matt Schaefer, and Ed Thompson. More retirement announcements are expected before the end of the filing period.
State Interim Charges
The Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House traditionally issue interim committee charges to their standing committees in the months following a regular legislative session. There is no timeline for the charges to be issued, however, interim charges for the 87th Texas Legislature were not issued until the spring of 2022. That legislature also had three special sessions including one that was held in October of 2021.
