Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stirred the political pot by vetoing 26 bills just before a midnight deadline, prompting him to call a special legislative session to address six of the vetoed items, including a controversial bill that would ban THC products containing Delta 8 and Delta 9. The special session, which is set to begin on July 21, has been called to tackle the fallout of these vetoes and will focus on a select list of legislation, as reported by CBS Austin.
Among the bills to be addressed is Senate Bill 3 (SB 3), which has become a battlefield of opinions between Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Patrick has expressed his frustration publicly, stating on social media that Abbott's veto "backed by many in the medical and education communities, and families who have seen their loved one’s lives destroyed by these dangerous drugs, leaves them feeling abandoned." However, Abbott defends his action by emphasizing the potential legal challenges the bill may face, as reported by KVUE.
The upcoming special session will not only revisit the contentious SB 3 but also other significant legislation. These include bills relating to real property recording requirements, water project fees, an affirmative defense for trafficking victims, and the regulation of certain industrial operations. The governor retains the right to add additional items to the call list leading up to the session, and this flexibility is a testament to the dynamic nature of Texas policymaking.
This is not the governor's first dance with special sessions. In fact, the one scheduled for July marks the ninth time Governor Abbott has utilized this legislative tool during his tenure. Evidently, special sessions have become a go-to strategy for addressing unresolved issues and advancing gubernatorial priorities, as per historical precedent noted by KVUE. During his administration, Abbott called three special sessions in 2021 and four during the 88th legislative session in 2023, indicating a pattern of returning lawmakers to the Capitol to hammer out legislation outside the regular session's constraints.
The list of vetoed bills is extensive, questioning the fate of diverse issues such as criminal offense trespass near schools, cosmetology licensure, and evidence testing in capital cases. While the vetoed legislation covers a broad spectrum of policy areas, only a handful will be revisited during the special session, leaving the rest on the sidelines for now. It remains to be seen how the legislature will respond to the governor's actions, both the vetoes and the calling of the special session. The eyes of Texas are indeed upon them, observing the shifts and moves within the Capitol dome.
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