Second Special Session Delivers

With House Democrats breaking quorum to protest congressional redistricting, Gov. Greg Abbott's first overtime call ended without any of his designated items reaching his desk. Abbott responded by immediately ordering the Legislature back to consider the same items, and a few more. This second attempt was more fruitful. While not all of the governor's priorities made it across the finish line, lawmakers delivered on most of them.

Below is a selection with county application.

• House Bill 16 by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen): Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, jurors, and the special prosecution unit; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.
• HB 20 by Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo): Relating to measures to prevent and reduce fraudulent charitable solicitations and theft during declared disasters, including establishing a designation program for disaster relief nonprofit organizations and financial institutions; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.
• HB 23 by Rep. Sam Harless (R-Spring): Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property owned by certain nonprofit corporations, located in a populous county, and used to promote agriculture, support youth, and provide educational support in the community.
• HB 26 by Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress): Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
• HB 192 by Oliverson (R-Cypress): Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
• Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston): Relating to making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and preparedness and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding those appropriations.
• SB 8 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston): Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex; authorizing a civil penalty and a private civil right of action.
• SB 11 by Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound): Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.
• SB 12 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola): Relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.
• SB 14 by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock): Relating to the provision by a political subdivision of credits against impact fees to builders and developers for certain water conservation and reuse projects.
• SB 16 by Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas): Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations, restitution, and certain procedures with respect to those offenses.
• SB 54 by Hughes: Relating to election procedures regarding accepting a voter with a residence address that is not current and the immediate effect of a voter's registration after the registrar's receipt of certain change of address notices.

TAC Legislative Services is preparing detailed summaries for all of the above bills for inclusion in an appendix to the digital, searchable 2025 Legislative Analysis Report. Printed copies of the original report are available for order here.

TWDB Flood Research Call

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is soliciting ideas for research projects that support flood planning or flood science, or ideas that support previously conducted TWDB flood research projects. More info here.

Beware of Malicious Emails

Over the past few days, TAC has been the target of a number of phishing attempts disguised as emails from member counties. Against the backdrop of recent airport targeted attacks, TAC's recent experience and an alert from the Texas Department of Licensing of fraudulent emails claiming to be from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, it seems prudent to exercise heightened awareness and caution to guard against potential cyberattacks.

Legislative Directory Available

The Texas Association of Counties' 2025-26 Legislative Directory remains available for order. The directory includes contact information for lawmakers, committees, county official associations and TAC's Legislative Services team.

Order free your copies here.

Month in Review is a collaborative column from TAC Legislative Services.