AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott will call a special session of the Legislature, summoning lawmakers back to Austin to tackle several policy items, including a bill banning hemp-derived THC products that he vetoed Sunday night.
The 30-day special session begins on July 21, Abbott officials said in a statement. Texas lawmakers can only work on legislation related to issues that Abbott specifies. So far, that includes addressing THC products, trafficking victims accused of certain crimes and other issues.
In a statement announcing that he will formally declare a special session at some point, Abbott thanked lawmakers for the work they completed during this year’s regular session, which ended on June 2.
“Working with the Texas Legislature, we delivered results that will benefit Texans for generations to come,” Abbott wrote. “Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, and the Texas House and Senate worked hard to send critical legislation to my desk. This session has seen monumental success, but there is more we can do.”
Redistricting was not on Abbott’s list of special session items.
Abbott is facing pressure from the White House to do a rare mid-decade redrawing of congressional districts to help Republicans maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Other vetoed bills that Abbott wants lawmakers to work on in the special session address property deeds and fraud, cement kiln operations and judicial reforms.
Abbott can add new items to the session’s agenda at any time, which some lawmakers expect to happen.
“The governor will probably add other issues to the special session,” Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, said in a video he posted to social media.
Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, questioned how Democrats should respond to Abbott’s special session, given that the main focus so far appears to be a THC ban that the minority party opposed.
“Let me get this straight, so I’m supposed to show up for a Special Session this Summer to ban THC?” Hinojosa posted on X.