AUSTIN, Texas — On the same day Gov. Greg Abbott signed a sweeping elections bill into law, he announced a third special session of the 87th Texas Legislature.
The third special session will convene at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 20 and will include five agenda items. Among the more notable ones are the redrawing of political boundaries in Texas in light of the 2020 census, legislation that would limit student-athletes to participation on teams that conform to the gender assigned them at birth and COVID-19 vaccine mandates by state and local government entities, which Abbott has vehemently opposed.
"The Texas Legislature now has the opportunity to redraw legislative and congressional districts in accordance with the new census numbers," Abbott wrote in a news release announcing the upcoming session. "In addition to redistricting, there are still issues remaining that are critical to building a stronger and brighter future for all Texans."
The agenda for the special session is as follows:
- 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.