Gov. Abbott Calls Second Special Session After Texas House Democrats Flee the State to Avoid Voting 

This week, Governor Greg Abbott announced a second Special Session after the Texas House failed to pass any legislation before the last day of the first special session due to Texas House Democrats fleeing the state to avoid voting on values issues important to Texans. The new Special Session will begin Saturday, August 7, at noon.

The second Special Session agenda has several new items added, but still has the issues of fair play in women’s sports, election integrity, and regulation of chemical abortions. However, Gov. Abbott did not add the issue of protecting children from sex-reassignment surgeries to the Second Special call.  

Jonathan Covey, Policy Director for Texas Values said: 

“We applaud Gov. Abbott for immediately scheduling the second Special Session and not getting deterred by Democratic antics.  We elected our representatives and it’s their duty to show up, do their job, and vote.  We thank Gov. Abbott for including the issues of fair play in women’s sports, election integrity, and regulation of chemical abortions, but also urge our elected leaders the legislature to pass legislation and Gov. Abbott to sign such a law on the issue of protecting children from harmful sex-reassignment surgeries. We know that Rep. Matt Krause already has enough Texas House members supporting legislation on this issue for it to pass.”

Judge Austin Reeve Jackson and Sen. Hughes Hold Press Conference to Counter the Frivolous Heartbeat Act Lawsuit

This week Judge Austin Reeve Jackson and Sen. Hughes held a press conference to address the Heartbeat Act lawsuit.   The plaintiffs are suing Jackson in his official capacity because, as a District Judge, he will interpret and apply the new law.

As the first-named defendant on the suit, Jackson stated he was a “clear target” because of his values. He said, “I am 100% committed to seeing this frivolous lawsuit dismissed, the attempts to run Christians out of elected office defeated, and the voice and the vote of pro-life Texans defended.”  

Senator Hughes said in remarks, "I was proud to author the Texas Heartbeat Bill that is now the Texas Heartbeat Law. My initial reaction to this lawsuit was disbelief -- disbelief at how desperate and frivolous it is. The actions taken against our district judges show how desperate corporate abortionists are to perform illegal abortions. Planned Parenthood should have planned better. I am honored to stand alongside Judge Reeve Jackson and fight for Life here in Texas.”

In mid-July, Panned Parenthood and other Texas pro-abortion organizations filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas district judges, Texas Health and Human Services, and others in a desperate attempt to scare and bully them and any potential plantiffs into submission regarding the Texas Heartbeat Act (S.B. 8), which prohibits abortions after the detection of the preborn baby’s heartbeat.  The Texas Heartbeat Act is set to go into effect on September 1, 2021.  
 

Texas Values Works to Protect Women’s Sports

This week members of the Texas Values Team met with state Rep. Valoree Swanson, Pastor Mark Gonzales, and women from all over the state that are supporting the save women’s sports legislation to keep men from competing against women in high school and college sports.

Texas Values and Texas Values Action is pleased to announce that Mary Elizabeth Castle has been promoted to Senior Policy Advisor. Mary Elizabeth has been a part of the Texas Values team since 2018 and has successfully advanced faith, family, and freedom in two legislative sessions at the Texas Capitol. She has a legal and policy background with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech School of Law.