Good morning, 

The second special legislative session of the year is in the books. Did lawmakers address every priority? That is the subject of today's Texas Minute. 

– Brandon Waltens 

Monday, September 6, 2021
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• The second special session of Texas’ 87th legislature began with the house still lacking the quorum necessary to do business.
   

• On August 19th enough Democrats returned from Washington D.C., allowing the Texas house to conduct business for two weeks before both chambers of the legislature adjourned “sine die” on last Thursday.
   

• Several of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities were passed this session, however many remained on the table and will likely be part of the third special session expected to take place in October for the decennial redistricting.

The following are legislative priorities that passed during this session:

• Election Integrity: Although different than the legislation originally boycotted by Texas democrats, election integrity legislation now awaits the Governor’s signature.

• Additional Border Security Funding: Funding has been approved for seven different state agencies to assist with border security.

• Remote learning: A bill was passed which expanded remote-learning options for school districts.

• Free Speech Online: Protections against social media and email service censorship.

• Abortion-Inducing Drugs: Legislation intended  to limit the provision of abortion-inducing drugs by mail or delivery service. 

• Primary Elections: Legislation modifying the filing periods and related election dates, including any runoffs, for primary elections held in Texas in 2022.

• Critical Race Theory Ban: Additional revisions to the ban on critical race theory pased earlier in the year made it through both chambers.

• Radioactive Waste: Legislation reforming the laws governing radioactive waste to protect the safety of Texans, including by further limiting the ability to store and transport high-level radioactive materials in this state.

• Article X Funding: A bill restoring funding for the legislature was passed after Gov. Abbott used his veto power to deny Article X funding before the special sessions. 

• 13th Check: A one-time supplemental payment of benefits under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
   
• Family Violence Protection: A bill requiring schools to provide appropriate education to middle- and high-school students about dating violence, domestic violence, and child abuse. 

The following legislative priorities did not pass during this session: 

• Youth Sports: A bill to require public school students to play sports in accordance with their biological sex made passed the Senate, only to be killed by a Democrat chairman in the House.
   

• Face Masks: There was no bill passed in eithe chamber to prohibit schools from requiring students to wear masks. 
   

• Employment: A bill to preempt local governments from creating overbearing regulations for small businesses was stopped by a point of order in the house.
   

• Bail Reform: While some legislation did make it through both chambers, a proposed constitutional amendment relating to bail reform failed in the house.
   

• Meaningful Property Tax Relief: Though the legislature faces a surplus of over $7 billion, they declined to pass legislation to meaningfully lower property taxes for most Texans. 
   

• Federal Relief Appropriations: Legislation to appropriate federal COVID relief money is expected to be addressed in the next special session.  
   

• Quorum Requirements: A proposed constitutional amendment to change the two-thirds quorum requirement of the legislature stalled in both chambers, as the amendment itself needed the approval of two-thirds.
   

• Additionally, despite calls from conservatives, the Republican Party of Texas, and even Gov. Greg Abbott, the legislature adjourned without approving or even considering punishments for the Democrat House members who left Austin and froze progress on priority legislation for the past two months. 
   

• And protecting children from gender mutiliation procedures? That issue wasn't even placed on the call, after Gov. Abbott said the chances of it passing the House were 'nill'.

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