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ARTICLE · 16 SEPTEMBER 2025

Texas Second Special Session: What Passed, What Stalled, And What's Next

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Texas wrapped its second special session of the 89th Legislature in early September with a slate of high-profile outcomes and a few notable omissions.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Esme Thoman
Esme Thoman
J. Carley Butler
J. Carley Butler
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Texas wrapped its second special session of the 89th Legislature in early September with a slate of high-profile outcomes and a few notable omissions. Governor Abbott convened the session on August 15th with an agenda that ranged from flood preparedness, replacing the STAAR test, redistricting, hemp/THC regulation, and more.

Big Headlines

  • Lawmakers approved a new congressional map that is expected to strengthen Republican representation in the U.S. House.
  • In response to July's flooding, the Legislature advanced bipartisan measures to bolster early-warning systems, improve emergency communications, and enhance youth-camp safety standards in flood-prone areas.
  • The Legislature also approved an overhaul of K–12 assessments, replacing STAAR with three shorter tests administered across the school year to provide faster feedback and reduce testing pressure.

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