AUSTIN, Texas - It's been a week dictated by Governor Greg Abbott's directives.
"This session we have new challenges to solve as well as old challenges that need new solutions," said Abbott.
In his State of the State address, the governor outlined four emergency items he said needed immediate attention.
"Few of those votes will involve life or death issues," said Abbott.
But Governor Abbott said Child Protective Services reform was a matter of life or death, and this week, a group of House members laid out their ideas for fixing the troubled agency.
"That is to make DFPS, or really CPS, Child Protective Services, a stand-alone agency reporting to the governor," said Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls.
Hundreds expressed disapproval on another emergency item, this one seeking to ban so-called sanctuary cities. The bill passed a Senate committee early Friday morning.
"What this does is gives our front line officers certainty that no matter where they work in this state, these are the laws that will be applied," said Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock.
The bill would punish police departments who don't honor all federal immigration detainer requests.
"This is the people's bill," said Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano.
Another emergency item, a bill on ethics reform - meant to make state government more transparent - is also headed to the senate floor.
Governor Abbott's final emergency item gained big applause during his speech, but hasn't seen much movement this week, which is his convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution.
"The federal government has grown out of control," said Abbott.
Normally the legislature doesn't vote on bills for the first 60 days of the session. However, items given emergency status by the governor are given the early go-ahead.