Texas Capitol Report: An update on Special Session - August 22, 2025

The Texas Legislature was back in full swing last week as the House restored quorum following the return of most Democratic members. With legislative business fully resumed, lawmakers made swift progress on a range of high-profile issues, including redistricting, disaster preparedness, and newly added items from Governor Abbott’s expanded special session agenda. The week marked a pivotal point in the session, with significant legislation advancing and new political dynamics taking shape.

Texas Marks Financial Milestone with NYSE Texas Launch

Governor Greg Abbott celebrated the launch of NYSE Texas by ringing the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange, marking a historic moment for the state’s financial sector. The new fully electronic equities exchange, part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., will be headquartered in Dallas, further cementing Texas’ role as a rising financial hub. Joined by U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and NYSE Group President Lynn Martin, Abbott highlighted Texas’ national leadership in job growth, business investment, and market innovation—calling it “the home of the economy.” NYSE Texas reflects the state’s growing influence in capital markets and continued success in attracting major financial institutions.

House Passes Congressional Redistricting Legislation

Governor Greg Abbott praised the Texas House of Representatives following their passage of House Bill 4, which addresses congressional district boundaries. The Governor congratulated Speaker Burrows and Republican House members for advancing redistricting maps that he says, "better reflect the actual votes of Texans." Abbott criticized Democratic legislators who left the state during the legislative process, stating that while "Democrats shirked their duty, in futility, and ran away to other states, Republicans stayed the course, stayed at work and stayed true to Texas." The Governor indicated he will sign the legislation once it clears the Senate and reaches his desk, marking another step in the ongoing redistricting process following the 2020 census.

Governor Expands Special Session Agenda

Governor Greg Abbott has added three items to the Legislature's second special session agenda: penalties for lawmakers who intentionally skip session, over-the-counter access to Ivermectin, and a requirement for groundwater studies in East Texas before conservation districts can issue new permits. Abbott described the additions as measures that will benefit Texans long-term and reinforce legislative accountability, health access, and environmental protection.

Speaker Burrows Celebrates Redistricting, Urges Unity

House Speaker Dustin Burrows hailed the passage of House Bill 4, the congressional redistricting plan, as both constitutional and reflective of voter input. He thanked Reps. Todd Hunter and Cody Vasut for their leadership and praised members for their commitment during a challenging session. Burrows called the bill a milestone for Republican unity and urged lawmakers to remain focused on delivering results and safeguarding communities.

House approves disaster preparedness package

In response to deadly summer flooding, the House passed a comprehensive disaster preparedness package. Speaker Burrows commended affected families and legislative partners for their advocacy. The six-bill package enhances camp safety, strengthens statewide emergency coordination, improves communication systems, allocates disaster relief funding, and curbs post-disaster fraud. Burrows thanked key committee leaders for advancing these critical protections.