Across the Lawn – July 25, 2025

One Thing to Do: Sign Up for Text Alerts

Given the fast-paced nature of a special session, we encourage you to sign up for our text alerts so you can track movement on key bills impacting public schools, students, and teachers, and learn of opportunities to make your voice heard at the Capitol.

1. Legislature Gavelled in on Monday, July 21, Starting 30-Day Special Session

The 89th First Called Session of the Texas Legislature convened on Monday, July 21, 2025. Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock released an updated Biennial Revenue Estimate, stating lawmakers will have $3.1 billion in general-purpose revenue available through August 31, 2027. 

Hancock, who stepped into the role on July 1, noted that Texas’ fiscal position remains strong, with the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund) projected to reach $28.5 billion by the end of fiscal year 2027. The fund is expected to hit its constitutional cap in 2026.The revenue estimate also notes new developments at the federal level. Recently passed legislation (H.R. 1) authorizes reimbursement to states for certain border security costs. These reimbursements, along with potential changes to Medicaid and nutrition program cost-sharing, were not yet factored into the estimate.

2. Lieutenant Governor Patrick Outlines Priority Bills

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released the Senate’s legislative priorities for the special session. Here’s a quick look at the 16 bills to be filed:

• SB 1 – Natural Disaster Preparation and Recovery, by Senator Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
• SB 2 – Flood Emergency Communications and Warning, by Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston
• SB 3 – Relief Funding for Hill Country, by Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston
• SB 4 – Redistricting, by Senator Phil King, R-Weatherford
• SB 5 – Banning THC, by Senator Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
• SB 6 – Protecting Unborn Children, by Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler
• SB 7 – Protecting Women’s Spaces, by Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston
• SB 8 – Eliminating STAAR Test, by Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston
• SB 9 – Cutting Property Taxes, by Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston
• SB 10 – Protecting Human Trafficking Victims, by Senator Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound
• SB 11 – Attorney General Election Powers, by Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler
• SB 12 – Banning Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying, by Senator Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston
• SB 13 – Water Project Incentives, by Senator Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
• SB 14 – Police Personnel Records, by Senator Phil King, R-Weatherford
• SB 15 – Stopping Title Theft and Deed Fraud, by Senator Royce West, D-Dallas
• SB 16 – State Judicial Omnibus Package, by Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler

The Senate State Affairs Committee held a hearing on Tuesday, July 22, to consider several bills on the list (SB 5, SB 11, SB 12); however, SB 8, eliminating the STAAR test, has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.

3. House Democrats Call for Flood Relief to Take Priority in Special Session

In a letter to Speaker Dustin Burrows, Texas House Democrats urged that flood relief and disaster recovery efforts be the top priority for the current special legislative session. The lawmakers emphasized the severe impact of the July 4th floods on Texas communities and called for immediate action to support recovery and invest in infrastructure to prevent future devastation.

They stated their intent to focus solely on flood response legislation until adequate relief and mitigation measures are passed and signed into law. 

4. School-Related Bills Filed So Far in the Special Session

During a special session, lawmakers can file bills on any topic, but the Legislature can only pass bills that fall within the Governor’s official call. So far, just two school-related items are on the call: eliminating STAAR and providing property tax relief. 

While other education bills have been filed, including those on funding, assessments, and teacher support, they cannot move forward unless Governor Abbott expands the call to include them.

Lawmakers have filed over two dozen bills related to public education, focusing heavily on property tax reform, assessment changes, school finance, and educator support. 

These bills have not been referred to committee as of yet.