Texas lawmakers start a 30-day special session July 21. They will tackle consumable THC, flood dangers, new congressional districts, abortion pills and other conservative priorities.
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas lawmakers are in Austin for the 89th Texas Legislature’s second, 30-day special session. They are redrawing the state’s congressional map, considering limits on consumable THC products and pushing flood preparedness measures. A first special session ended without successful legislation after House Democrats fled the state to block Republicans’ proposed congressional redistricting map. The regular session ran from January to June and resulted in a new school voucher program, a ban on DEI initiatives in public schools and proposals to increase the state’s water supply.
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Redistricting Texas 2025
Texas Republicans, including Gov. Abbott, were reluctant to redraw the state’s congressional maps. Then Trump got involved.
The governor eventually agreed to include redistricting on his special session agenda after discussing the matter with the president on a phone call.
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Redistricting Texas 2025
Texas Democrats vow to use delay tactics to drag out GOP redistricting effort
With few options to prevent the Republican majority from passing a new congressional map, Democrats threatened to filibuster, delay hearings and even break quorum.
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Investigations
Texas lawmakers largely ignored recommendations aimed at helping rural areas like Kerr County prepare for flooding
Texas lawmakers’ inaction on flood prevention often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities the hardest, experts said.
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Hill Country floods
Newly formed Texas disaster preparedness and flooding committee will visit Kerr County
The joint House and Senate committee will first meet in Austin next week, then in Kerrville on July 31 to hear from Hill Country residents about their concerns.
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TribCast
TribCast: Texas’ redistricting gamble
The gang is joined by Kareem Crayton, from the Brennan Center for Justice, to discuss Texas’ mid-decade redistricting effort.
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Redistricting Texas 2025
Texas leaders have repeatedly claimed the state’s voting maps are race blind. Until the Trump DOJ disagreed.
Gov. Greg Abbott has acknowledged DOJ concerns that some districts were drawn “along strict racial lines.” Critics say it’s a political ploy.
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Hill Country floods
Can sirens help save lives in the next flood? Yes, but there’s more to it.
While sirens can help in areas with shaky cell service, experts say officials also need to consider alert fatigue and provide education on what to do in an emergency.
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Texas Legislature 2025
As Texas Republicans prepare for mid-decade redistricting, cautionary tales loom from the past
Spurred by President Donald Trump’s political team, Texas lawmakers will try to redraw the state’s congressional map to boost Republicans — but some GOP incumbents are uneasy.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities
The Republican governor laid out an ambitious agenda that includes an unexpected array of conservative bills that failed during the regular session.