Texas Legislature Convenes Special Session Monday to Address Flood Response and Conservative Priorities

Abbott's 18-Item Agenda Tackles Hill Country Disaster Recovery, Hemp Regulation, and Controversial Redistricting

The Texas Legislature will convene a 30-day special session Monday at noon to address 18 priorities set by Governor Greg Abbott, with flood response measures taking center stage following the catastrophic July 4 disaster that killed more than 100 people in Central Texas, while lawmakers also face controversial items including congressional redistricting, hemp regulation, and conservative social policies that could define the state's political landscape heading into 2026.

The session comes in the wake of devastating flash floods along the Guadalupe River that swept through the Texas Hill Country over Independence Day weekend, making it the second-deadliest flood disaster in state history. Abbott has positioned flood preparedness as the primary justification for the special session, though critics argue the packed agenda serves broader Republican political interests.

The governor announced the comprehensive agenda on July 9, stating that "there is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country," according to his official proclamation.

Flood Response Takes Priority Amid Ongoing Recovery

Four of the 18 agenda items directly address the July 4 flooding that claimed over 100 lives and left dozens missing along the Guadalupe River watershed. The Guadalupe River surged more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes, overwhelming communities in Kerr County and beyond.

The flood-related legislation includes measures to improve early warning systems, strengthen emergency communications infrastructure, provide relief funding for affected communities, and streamline regulations for disaster preparedness and recovery. According to CBS Austin, the approach will be "tailored to each region's specific river basin risks, rather than applying uniform solutions statewide".

State Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who will serve on the Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding, emphasized the need for urgent action.

"When you have a tragedy where you lose 100 lives in one county and maybe 200 and the whole event at the at the sad end of the day, that means that it's time to make sure we do everything we can to keep Texans and our visitors safe," Bettencourt told CBS Austin.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has called for immediate state intervention where local communities lack resources, stating: "If a community can't do it, then the state should come in and do it… We should strive to do that before next summer," according to Audacy.

Hemp Industry Regulation Returns After Abbott Veto

The regulation of hemp-derived THC products represents one of the most contentious items on the agenda. During the regular session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 3, which would have banned most consumable hemp products, including vapes, gummies, and drinks that provide effects similar to marijuana.

Abbott vetoed the legislation, calling for more nuanced regulation of the industry rather than an outright ban. The hemp industry has grown significantly in Texas, with opponents of the original ban arguing it would eliminate tens of thousands of jobs and remove alternatives to opioids for veterans and others managing pain.

According to The Texas Tribune, the issue represents "a second attempt at regulating THC, the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plants of hemp and marijuana". The governor's veto came after recognizing concerns about the broad nature of the proposed ban.

Congressional Redistricting Sparks Political Controversy

Perhaps the most politically charged item on the agenda is congressional redistricting, which Abbott included despite the fact that Texas completed its decennial redistricting process in 2021. The push for mid-decade redistricting has drawn fierce criticism from Democrats and voting rights advocates.

The redistricting effort follows President Trump's urging of Texas Republicans to redraw congressional maps, aiming to help the GOP maintain control of the House of Representatives. According to previous reporting, Trump has suggested the effort could flip as many as five congressional seats to Republicans.

The justification for redistricting centers on a July 7 Department of Justice letter arguing that four Texas districts should be redrawn because they constitute illegal racial gerrymanders. However, the timing and content of the letter have drawn skepticism from legal experts and Democrats who view it as providing political cover for partisan redistricting.

All four districts targeted by the DOJ letter are currently held by Black or Latino Democrats, raising concerns about potential violations of the Voting Rights Act.

Conservative Social Agenda Rounds Out Priorities

The special session agenda includes several conservative priorities that were not advanced during the regular session. These include measures to eliminate the STAAR standardized test, ban mail-order abortion pills, and address property tax relief.

According to CBS News, the agenda represents "lots of long-time conservative wish list items that the governor's thrown on," as described by Texas Tribune politics editor Jasper Scherer. The breadth of the agenda has raised questions about whether lawmakers can address all 18 items within the 30-day time limit.

Brad Johnson, senior reporter at The Texan, described the agenda as "quite a slate even for a regular session," noting the challenge of accomplishing so much in such a compressed timeframe.

Legislative Leadership Prepares for Intensive Session

House Speaker Dustin Burrows has pledged to prioritize flood response measures, stating: "We want to make sure that when we end that session, we end it making sure these communities are better, more resilient and have the resources they need for the next chapter of their lives," according to Audacy.

The compressed timeline has forced legislative committees to work more quickly than usual. State Representative Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, noted that redistricting maps are expected to be ready on the first day of the session rather than being developed over months as typically occurs during regular sessions.

"I think it's going to be a very fast pace. Normally, this takes place during a regular session where you've got months of time to work on it. But this time, with it being a 30-day special session, the expectation is our maps are drawn on day one," Goodwin told CBS Austin.

Democratic Opposition and Political Tensions

The Texas Democratic Party has criticized Abbott for including items beyond flood response in the special session, arguing that he already possesses emergency authority to provide flood aid without legislative approval.

"This session will be costly to Texas taxpayers and appears to serve Republican special interests rather than Texans," the party stated, according to CBS News. Democrats argue that the legislature should prioritize flood relief and prevention measures above all else.

The inclusion of redistricting has particularly inflamed Democratic opposition, with party leaders characterizing it as an attempt to manipulate electoral maps for partisan advantage. The controversy reflects broader national tensions over gerrymandering and voting rights.

Financial and Political Stakes

The special session incurs a significant cost to Texas taxpayers, with each day of the session estimated to cost approximately $52,000 according to legislative budget estimates. The 30-day session will incur direct expenses exceeding $1.5 million, excluding the opportunity costs of diverting lawmakers from their regular duties.

The political stakes are equally high, particularly in the context of redistricting. Any new congressional maps drawn during the session would likely face immediate legal challenges, potentially tying up the state in litigation for years to come. Texas has faced redistricting litigation after every redistricting cycle since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

Challenges and Expectations

As lawmakers prepare to convene Monday, the success of the session will largely depend on their ability to balance competing priorities within the 30-day limit. The flood response measures appear to have bipartisan support, but other agenda items face significant political obstacles.

The redistricting fight, in particular, could consume a substantial amount of time and energy that might otherwise be devoted to flood preparedness and other pressing issues. Legal challenges to any redistricting plan are virtually guaranteed, potentially undermining the durability of any maps drawn during the session.

With recovery efforts still ongoing in Central Texas and the 2026 election cycle approaching, the special session represents a critical juncture for Texas politics. The outcome will likely influence not only the state's immediate response to natural disasters but also its political landscape for years to come.

The session begins at noon on Monday, July 21, with lawmakers facing intense pressure to deliver results on multiple fronts while navigating the complex political dynamics that have come to define Texas government in the current era.