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AUSTIN, Texas – The second special session of the 87th Texas Legislature was adjourned around 8:30 a.m. Thursday evening with a series of controversial GOP victories.
What you need to know
- The second special session of the 87th Texas Legislature wrapped up around 8:30 p.m. Thursday
- Several priority GOP bills were approved at the meeting, including the six-week abortion ban, further voting restrictions, and unauthorized wear
- The electoral law caused the House Democrats to flee to Washington, breaking the House quorum for several weeks
- A third special session, which will deal with the redrawing of the political state borders, is expected later in 2021
A short time later, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, released a statement on the controversial session in which he thanked Texas lawmakers for their “hard work.”
More notable Republican victories included the passage of a comprehensive electoral law that sets new limits on how and when Texans can cast their votes, such as banning drive-through and 24-hour votes. The law also makes it a crime for electoral judges to obstruct partisan election observers and adds new requirements for postal voting, but includes a corrective process.
Republicans say the changes are needed to provide more protection for the vote, while Democrats say the new rules will hit colored voters disproportionately.
The bill caused the House of Representatives Democrats to flee to Washington, breaking the House quorum for several weeks.
Equally controversial was the passing of a law prohibiting abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which in many cases occurs after six weeks of pregnancy.
The law went into effect Wednesday, and the US Supreme Court earlier Thursday, by a 5-4 vote, dismissed an urgency complaint from abortion providers and others who tried to block enforcement.
Democrats say the bill is tantamount to the Texas Republicans undermining the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision and essentially banning abortions in the state.
“The Supreme Court’s overnight ruling is an unprecedented assault on the constitutional rights of a woman under Roe v. Wade who has been the law of the country for nearly fifty years,” President Biden wrote in a statement.
The law makes no exception for cases of rape or incest. However, enforcement rests with individuals who have the power to sue doctors or anyone else who helps a woman perform an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Complainants can seek damages of up to $ 10,000.
So-called permissionless transport is now the law in Texas. It allows any Texan 21 and over to carry a handgun without training or licensing, as long as that person is not federally or state prohibited from owning a firearm.
One Republican agenda item that has not been resolved is a bill that would prohibit student athletes from participating in teams that are not of the gender they were assigned at birth.
In a statement, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, that the subject will be added to the third special session.
“We still have unfinished business with the Fair Sports for Women and Girls Act. The Senate passed this bill four times and it failed in the House of Representatives. I asked Governor Abbott to summon him to the special session later this month and we will see him off again, ”Patrick wrote.
Tonight we are laying the foundation for a conservative policy of common sense. I’m very proud to say that the Texas Senate has completed one of the best weeks for Texas Republican legislation.
Read my official statement on the adjournment of the Texas Senate’s sine: https://t.co/gcTXp7i0wY
– Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) September 3, 2021
Legislators are expected to return to the Capitol in the near future to tackle redrawing the political boundaries, though Governor Greg Abbott has yet to announce a start date.
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