The first called Special Session of the 87th Legislature came to a whimpering end on Friday, August 6. Only a few days into the 30-day special session, House Democrats fled to Washington, D.C., bringing all debate in the Capitol to a standstill. However, Governor Abbott has promised to continue calling special sessions until the Democrats show up for work, and this provides a unique chance for more Pro-Life legislative victories in our state this year.
This summer’s first special session began on July 8. Just a few days later, Democrats deserted Texas, leaving too few lawmakers to conduct business in an attempt to block the passage of Governor Abbott’s 11 agenda items. Now, as the first special session wraps up, Democrats are still camped in D.C., Portugal, and the Caribbean, among other places, without clarifying when they will return. Yet, with Governor Abbott promising to continue calling special sessions until the agenda items are accomplished, the fleeing Democrats have forced a second special session, which started Saturday, August 7, the day after the conclusion of the first special session.
So far, this year has been a great victory for preborn children in legislation and a devastating loss for vulnerable patients. Two Pro-Life Priorities fully passed: the Texas Heartbeat Act and full funding of the life-affirming Alternatives to Abortion program. However, this left four Pro-Life Priorities yet to be fully accomplished by the Legislature.
A special session lasts a maximum of 30 days and can only be called by the governor, who solely decides what items can be considered. When Governor Abbott called legislators back to Austin at the beginning of July, he included 11 items on his agenda, including one Pro-Life policy—to strengthen Texas’s regulation of abortion-inducing drugs. This Pro-Life policy had a hearing, was voted out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and was passed by the full Senate. Unfortunately, House Democrats had already abandoned their duties when the bill reached the House.
For Pro-Life Texans, these multiple special legislative sessions provide additional opportunities to build on the successes of this year and pass more legislation to save the lives of preborn children and vulnerable patients.
Governor Abbott has announced the 17 items on his agenda for the second special session. Once again, the only Pro-Life policy on the agenda is strengthening regulations of chemical abortion drugs. There is still time for him to add the other unfinished Pro-Life Priorities to this or a future special session agenda. Click HERE to Urge Governor Abbott to build on the momentum of the Texas Heartbeat Act and include even more life-saving items to his special session agenda, including:
- Repealing the anti-Life 10-Day Rule
- Defending the consciences of Texas health care workers
- Protecting even more preborn Texans
Stay tuned for more Pro-Life updates as the 87th Legislature continues into the second special session.