Gov. Greg Abbott adds transgender sports, abortion, border security to special session agenda

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott has added more hot-button social issues, such as transgender sports and medication abortion, as well as border security to the agenda of a special session that’s fraught with emotion, given his demand for election law changes that died in May.

The 30-day special session begins Thursday.

On Wednesday, Abbott placed on the “call” of the session a few other items he’d not foreshadowed, such as a “13th check” for retired teachers who haven’t received a cost-of-living increase in recent years and additional money to raise rates to attract more foster care providers, needed to help ease a dire capacity shortage.

Abbott’s special session proclamation included, as expected, his demands for legislators to pass:

• An “election integrity” bill, the issue that sparked a Democratic quorum break in late May that killed such legislation in the regular session;
  
• A measure that changes bail-setting procedures, to prevent defendants who might commit acts of violence from being freed before trial;
  
• Yet-another bill restricting what public-school teachers can say about “critical race theory;”
  
• A ban of social media censorship of conservative viewpoints, with “a legal remedy for those wrongfully excluded from a platform;” and
  
• Restoring state funds for the Legislature, its staff members and support agencies. Abbott vetoed as punishment for the Democrats’ walkout — and an inducement for them to not break quorum in the special session.
  

After prodding from Dallas Democratic Sen. Royce West and the Grand Prairie assistant police chief, the Republican governor revived a bill he vetoed last month that would require Texas middle and high school students to be taught about domestic violence, dating violence and child abuse.

In his proclamation, Abbott specifically called for passage of the “Christine Blubaugh Act,” named for a 16-year-old Grand Prairie teen who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2000. But Abbott repeated his insistence that parents should be able to opt out of their kids’ receiving such instruction.

With Comptroller Glenn Hegar expected to issue a rosy economic forecast before lawmakers gather Thursday, Abbott also said lawmakers should use available discretionary state dollars to tackle property tax relief, better state safeguards on cybersecurity and the foster-care capacity crisis.

In a written statement, Abbott said the regular session was “a monumental success.”

However, he said, “we have unfinished business to ensure that Texas remains the most exceptional state in America.”

He noted two of his emergency items from the regular session — bail and voting laws — did not make it to his desk.

“We have a responsibility to finish the job on behalf of all Texans,” he said. “These Special Session priority items put the people of Texas first and will keep the Lone Star State on a path to prosperity.

The call differs from what Abbott pledged earlier, to go one issue at a time, with him waiting until the current topic has been passed before adding to the call. Abbott said he was adding 11 items. However, depending on how you count the three involving available money, they could be considered as 13. Five of them tied to specific bills that died in the regular session.