The Texas Senate moved quickly on Monday, passing a string of bills that follow Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the state’s second special legislative session of the year. The session kicked off with a strong focus on flooding issues, especially in response to the deadly flash floods that struck Central Texas over the July 4 weekend, killing at least 135 people, including 27 girls at Camp Mystic.
After last session was delayed when House Democrats left the state to block the new congressional maps, the Senate wasted no time picking up similar themes for this round. Among the flood-related measures passed was a bill aimed at making youth summer camps safer during flash floods. It would require camps in flood-prone areas to create evacuation plans and stock cabins with ladders to help campers reach safety if needed. This came after data from the Upper Guadalupe River Authority indicated strong local support for better flood warning systems.
Several other flood bills passed as well. One requires the state to figure out where outdoor warning sirens should go in flood-prone areas and to set rules for installing them, with grants to help local governments fund the equipment. Another bill dedicates $50 million from the Rainy Day Fund to sirens and rain gauges in the affected region, plus $24 million more for better weather forecasting.
On the political and social fronts, the Senate approved a bill that limits the amount cities and counties with at least 75,000 residents can increase property tax revenue to 2.5% annually without voter approval, tightening existing rules. The Senate also passed a bill that would ban almost all hemp products containing any form of THC except for CBD and CBG, reflecting ongoing concerns about the safety of these products for children. This bill passed with a 22-8 vote after a previous version was vetoed by Abbott earlier this year.
Another bill that attracted attention restricts bathroom and facility use in public places like prisons and shelters based on a person’s sex at birth. It includes fines for violations and lets people sue institutions that don’t comply. This “bathroom bill” passed with a 19-11 vote.
Other highlights include bipartisan support for a bill that lets trafficking victims use an affirmative defense if they commit crimes under a trafficker’s control. It passed unanimously. Additionally, the Senate gave preliminary approval to a measure that would let the state attorney general prosecute election crimes without waiting for a local district attorney’s permission — a power previously ruled out by courts but sought by conservatives.
The Senate also approved a bill banning local governments and school districts from using taxpayer money to hire lobbyists at the state Capitol. Another bill will reduce “impact fees” developers pay to local governments for water and sewer when they build systems that save or reuse water.
Transparency in law enforcement is also on the agenda. One bill would create confidential files for certain police personnel records, like unsubstantiated claims. Supporters say this stops damaging false accusations from becoming public, while critics worry it could block important information about police conduct, especially regarding cases like the Uvalde shooting.
Laws to fight property deed fraud and help communities build small-scale flood control projects were also passed. One bill changes legislative witness immunity from “transactional” to “testimonial,” meaning testimony can’t be used criminally against a witness.
The Legislature is clearly pushing ahead with plenty of measures that aim to address public safety, government transparency, and how local governments operate—all while responding to the tragic floods that devastated Central Texas this summer. The session’s bills will now move through further stages before becoming law, but the Senate’s vote on Monday highlights the state’s urgent focus on these issues.