government Relations
Special Session
The Governor of Texas may call a special session of the Legislature, to meet for 30 days to consider items that the Governor places on the call. Only the Governor may determine what items may be considered. On July 10, the Governor officially called a special session to begin July 18 to consider “sunset legislation” that would extend the existence of five state agencies. On July 20, Governor Abbott released a supplemental call adding 19 items to the Special Session agenda.
Several items on the supplemental call have the potential to have a profound impact on the City of Houston. The Mayor’s Government Relations team informs and educates members of the Legislature on that impact, and advocates for the best possible outcome for the City of Houston and its residents.
The Mayor has offered written testimony on several items considered thus far. You can find that testimony below.
- Opposition to legislation that prohibits local public entities from partnering with affiliates of abortion providers
- Opposition to legislation forbidding a government entity from collecting union dues
- Opposition to legislation on rollback elections
- Opposition to legislation introducing school vouchers
- Opposition to "bathroom bills"
- Opposition to legislation placing new burdens on annexation
- Opposition to legislation that could invalidate building codes and other municipal regulations
- Opposition to legislation that would increase state control over municipal permitting
- Opposition to legislation that would restrict cities and homeowner’s association from regulating trees
- Opposition to legislation introducing arbitrary fiscal caps that would damage the City’s credit rating
- Opposition to statewide revenue cap
- Opposition to statewide tree regulations
- Support for House education finance reform bill
- Support for Maternal Mortality Task Force extension