Following this year’s regular legislative session, Governor Greg Abbott called two special sessions. The Texas Legislature met to consider additional laws on topics picked by the governor.

• The First Called Session ran from July 21 to August 15. No bills were passed.
• The Second Called Session ran from August 15 to September 4. The governor has signed 31 bills and resolutions from this session.

After a session ends, many organizations publish legislative summaries to help the public learn about important changes. The summaries below recap the bills from the 89th Legislature’s Second Called Session.

Summaries | Abortion | Bathroom Bill | Cannabis | Education | Elections | Flood Safety | Ivermectin | Redistricting

Summaries

• Sirens, summer camps and weather alerts: Here’s what is changing in Texas after the special session by KUT News
• Texas Legislature ends second special session marked by new political maps, slew of conservative wins by The Texas Tribune

Abortion

• Bill allowing private citizens to sue over abortion pills clears Texas governor’s desk by The Texas Tribune
• Texas lawmakers approve letting private citizens sue abortion pill providers by The Associated Press

Bathroom Bill

• "Bathroom bill” aimed at trans people signed into law after decade of failed attempts by The Texas Tribune
• Gov. Abbott signs ‘bathroom bill’ with new restrictions on transgender Texans by KUT News

Cannabis

Though lawmakers were unable to pass a new law on THC regulation, the governor issued an Executive Order on the subject.

• Gov. Greg Abbott orders minors banned from THC products by The Texas Tribune
• The future of THC products in Texas by Texas Public Radio
• New emergency THC rules now in effect in Texas by Fox 4 KDFW

Education

• Texas is officially replacing STAAR. Here is what schools’ new standardized tests will look like by The Texas Tribune

Elections

• Bill giving attorney general authority to prosecute election crimes heads to Abbott’s desk by The Texas Tribune

Flood Safety

• Texas governor signs camp safety legislation in response to July 4 floods by Courthouse News Service
• Texas kids’ camps must remove cabins from floodplains, operate warning systems under new laws by The Texas Tribune

Ivermectin

• Bill making ivermectin an over-the-counter drug signed by Gov. Greg Abbott by The Texas Tribune

Redistricting

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs new Texas congressional map designed to give GOP five more seats by The Texas Tribune
• Lawmakers redrew Texas’ congressional districts. See how yours changed by The Texas Tribune

Disclaimer: The library does not endorse any political messages these sources may contain. They are listed here as informational sources for the public. See our third-party linking policy.