The Third Special Legislative Session began on Monday with five items on the agenda. Redistricting is at the top of the list and will impact who Texans will vote for to represent them during the coming decade. State lawmakers will use new Census data to redraw political maps.
“The Texas Legislature now has the opportunity to redraw legislative and congressional districts in accordance with the new census numbers,” said Governor Abbott. “In addition to redistricting, there are still issues remaining that are critical to building a stronger and brighter future for all Texans.”
Other Agenda items for the third Special Session include:
Legislation relating to the apportionment of the State of Texas into districts used to elect members of the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate, the State Board of Education, and the United States House of Representatives.
Legislation providing appropriations from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), Pub. L. No. 117-2.
Legislation identical to Senate Bill 29 as passed by the Texas Senate in the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, disallowing a student from competing in University Interscholastic League athletic competitions designated for the sex opposite to the student’s sex at birth.
Legislation regarding whether any state or local governmental entities in Texas can mandate that an individual receive a COVID-19 vaccine and, if so, what exemptions should apply to such mandate.
Legislation similar to Senate Bill 474 as passed by the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, but that addresses the concerns expressed in the governor’s veto statement. Senate Bill 474 created criminal penalties for dog owners failing to monitor things like the tailoring of the dog’s collar, the time the dog spends in the bed of a truck, and the ratio of tether-to-dog length, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Governor Abbott vetoed the original bill and expressed his objections: “Texans love their dogs, so it is no surprise that our statutes already protect them by outlawing true animal cruelty. Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization. “