Texas Legislature’s Second Special Session Continues with Expanded Agenda
Texas lawmakers are currently engaged in their second 30-day special session of 2025, with Gov. Greg Abbott adding voter registration and law enforcement contracts to the second special session’s agenda just two days ago.
Recent Agenda Expansion
Texas Elections
On Monday, Governor Abbott sent a message to the Texas Legislature expanding the Special Session No. 2 agenda to include legislation that will improve public safety and the security of Texas elections. The expansion includes new provisions related to voter registration processes, with legislation pushed by Abbott that would bar voters at the polls from immediately casting a ballot based on a last-minute update to their address.
“It surfaced this week, and I think it was (State Rep.) Valerie Swanson (who) brought it up. (Swanson) found out something I was unaware of, that there was the possibility—I think it was legislation passed in the regular session—that led to election day registration and voting… and that’s something we don’t want in Texas because it opens the door to potential cheating. That’s why I put it on the call, and that’s why I think I’ll be signing it to law.” — Gov. Greg Abbott
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt says the legislation isn’t necessary.
Law Enforcement “G-files”
Earlier this week, Democrats successfully delayed the advancement of a bill that would let law enforcement agencies across the state keep unsubstantiated complaints against officers private. (Texas Tribune)
The proposal, if adopted, would require law enforcement agencies to create a confidential department file — also called a “G-file” — to hold any unsubstantiated allegations against an officer as well as those that did not result in disciplinary actions.
The G-file would also include “any letter, memorandum or document” related to the officer that are not their substantiated misconduct complaints, commendations, awards or periodic evaluations. Those remaining records would be in the officer’s personnel file, which would still be publicly accessible through the state’s open records law.
Ongoing Session Context
Texas lawmakers are in Austin for the 89th Texas Legislature’s second, 30-day special session. They are redrawing the state’s congressional map, considering limits on consumable THC products and pushing flood preparedness measures. This second special session comes after a first special session ended without successful legislation after House Democrats fled the state to block Republicans’ proposed congressional redistricting map.
Previous Session Actions
Earlier in the special session, the Texas Senate issued its final approval to a suite of bills that, if enacted, will prohibit transgender people from using certain restrooms, unilaterally ban hemp products and curtail the ability for cities and counties to raise property taxes.
The current special session represents the continuation of significant legislative activity following the regular session that ran from January to June, which resulted in major policy changes including a new school voucher program and bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in public schools.
As the 30-day special session continues, lawmakers are working through the expanded agenda items while attempting to address the priorities that remained unfinished from the first special session earlier this year.
More news from the Texas Legislature further down this post in IN OTHER NEWS
Austin City Council’s Climate, Water, Environment & Parks Committee met yesterday.
City Council meets today for its regular meeting with a busy agenda that includes:
Administrative
- Animal Services Office – Animal Advisory Commission amendments
- Austin Water – $260M tax-exempt obligations resolution
- Austin Water – Lennar Homes cost participation agreement ($6,228,082)
- Austin Water – TWDB financing agreement ($3,000,000)
- Austin Water – TWDB financing agreement ($10,000,000)
Aviation
- Aviation – Airline use and lease agreements (2026-2035)
Convention Center
- Convention Center – Visit Austin marketing plan and budget ($22,453,065)
Financial Services
- Financial Services – Austin Public Facilities Corporation board appointment
- Financial Services – Electrification Infrastructure contract ($7,400,000)
Construction & Infrastructure Contracts (Items 10-44)
- Williamson Creek rehabilitation project
- Hampton Branch parking lot expansion
- Palmer Events Center plumbing upgrade
- Access gate maintenance contracts
- Biogas membrane purchase
- Compost processing services
- Fuel island parts and repairs
- Group life insurance contract
- Language interpretation services
- Quality-of-life study
- Roll-up signs contract
- Police training curriculum
- Tree and vegetation management
- Power supply maintenance
- Library collection services
- ServiceNow software platform
- Library system contract
- Police investigation software
- Internet services contracts
- Emergency notification equipment
- Aerial imagery subscription
- Mobile security cameras
- Zilker Café concession management
- Various Austin Energy contracts and upgrades
- Airport escalator modernization
- Urban Forest Grant administration
Real Estate (Items 45-48)
- Real Estate – Tracor Lane property acquisition ($41,113,756)
- Real Estate – Congress Avenue lease extension
- Real Estate – Electric transmission easement acquisition
Homeless Strategy Office (Items 49-67)
- Multiple amendments to permanent supportive housing agreements
- Rapid rehousing services contracts
- Emergency shelter agreements
- Mobile services contracts
- Grant funding acceptance
- Data analytics framework development
Housing
- Housing – Community Land Trust designations and tax exemptions
Legal Services (Items 69-72)
- Various legal representation contracts
Parks and Recreation
- Parks – Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex management
Planning
- Planning – Imagine Austin comprehensive plan update ($3,000,000)
Public Health (Items 75-88)
- Multiple contract amendments for health services, including:
- Community health programs
- Legal filing fee assistance
- Mental health services
- Community health navigation
- Victim services
- Maternal/infant health programs
- Food access programs
Transportation and Public Works (Items 89-92)
- TPW – Right-of-way vacation (Saint Thomas Drive area)
- TPW – Right-of-way vacation (Julieanna Cove)
- TPW – Speed limit amendment (Farmhaven Road)
- TPW – Capital Metro interlocal agreement
Council Items (Items 93-103)
- Board and commission appointments
- Austin Habitat for Humanity fee waiver
- East 11th and 12th Street Urban Renewal Plan amendment
- Dog boarding facility welfare resolution
- Trail Conservancy event fee waiver
- National League of Cities leadership nominations
- Taiwanese American Citizens League event fee waiver
- Circle C Turkey Trot fee waiver
- Non-congregate shelters funding exploration
- Budget guidance resolution
- Food service establishment permit fees study
Non-Consent Items
Public Hearings (Items 104-107)
- Parks – Jamestown Neighborhood Park temporary use
- Housing – Sycamores at Pleasant Valley development
- Parks – Balcones District Park land use change
- Housing – Sycamores at Pleasant Valley tax credits
12:00 PM – Public Communication
- Scheduled speakers on various topics including APD corruption, internet sweepstakes, tax rates, and development issues
Executive Session
- Legal consultation regarding Tracor Lane property acquisition
2:00 PM – Zoning and Neighborhood Plan Amendments (Items 109-114)
- Zoning – 6201 Crow Lane neighborhood plan amendment
- Zoning – 6201 Crow Lane rezoning
- Zoning – Riata Vista Circle PDA rezoning
- Zoning – 6817 & 6901 N. Lamar neighborhood plan amendment
- Zoning – 6817 & 6901 N. Lamar rezoning
- Zoning – 2323 South Lamar Mixed Use rezoning
10:30 AM – Austin Housing Finance Corporation Meeting
- AHFC – Board of Directors meeting
The Austin Police Department is looking for a man they say drove a stolen truck into a North Austin restaurant earlier this month. Police believe he may have fled the state.
Updated information on an accident Sunday evening that killed a motorcyclist.
Austin police are searching for a suspect who was seen punching a woman on 7th Street downtown nearly two weeks ago.
Police are also looking for a man suspected of stealing personal items from a vehicle and then using stolen credit cards to make purchases.
An Uber driver has been charged with attempted sexual assault following an incident involving a passenger in November 2024 in South Austin. (CBS Austin)
“CAUGHT ON CAMERA”
KXAN-TV covers recent stories involving incidents caught on camera.
Some families in the Sandy Creek area say they wish there was a more streamlined process to receive flood recovery aid.
Grocery giant Walmart is interested in opening a store north of Austin. It would be the first major grocer for Jarrell.
Austin will soon have its first major roller coaster as construction is near the finish line at COTALAND Theme Park.
New research from UT Austin shows tiny bits of plastic are polluting Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. (KXAN-TV)
Meanwhile….
A whopping 14.05 pound largemouth bass was recently caught near Barton Creek. (KUT 90.5)
Goats can be found grazing on overgrown brush on the Ann and Roy Butler Trail in Austin this week. (Austin American-Statesman)
WEATHER
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
As of early this morning, Fernand has officially become a non-tropical low. This will be the final advisory on the storm from the National Hurricane Center. A disturbance moving off of Africa has a low chance to develop into a tropical depression next week.
Democratic Texas House members were slapped with hefty fines for their two weeks of stalling the legislative chamber’s ability to reach quorum. (KXAN-TV)
More than 300 Texas school districts and charter schools plan to adopt a state-developed reading and language arts curriculum. The curriculum, which drew national attention last year for its strong focus on the Bible and Christianity, was revealed in data obtained by The Texas Tribune. (Texas Tribune)
Elon Musk, in partnership with Houston-area Rep. Wesley Hunt, has spent months aggressively pushing state and local officials to hire Musk’s Boring Co. to build two narrower, 12-foot tunnels around one major watershed. That could be a potentially cheaper, but, at least one expert said, less effective solution to the region’s historic flooding woes. (KUT 90.5)
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday praised Texas leadership for aligning the state with his Make America Healthy Again agenda by removing dangerous additives from food and other measures.
Former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores announced on Wednesday that she is switching back to her original district to challenge Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in 2026. (Texas Tribune)
President Trump is using the threat of legal action to push his policies forward in Texas and beyond.
We continue our series about new state laws taking effect with a look at one that prevents people from certain countries from buying land in Texas.
20 years after Hurricane Katrina, how the New Orleans residents who found a home in Houston reshaped the cultural landscape.
Actor Austin Butler and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky on their new film, “Caught Stealing.”
And the Standard’s Kristen Cabrera with part two of her report on the Rio Grande Valley’s brand new college football team, the UTRGV Vaqueros.
(Episode from August 27, 2025)
Acquisition Logistics LLC is a small business that has no listed experience running a correction facility and had never won a federal contract worth more than $16 million. The company also lacks a functioning website and lists as its address a modest home in suburban Virginia owned by a 77-year-old retired Navy flight officer. (Chron)
Two Harris County deputies were hit while on duty in a crash overnight that sent five people to the hospital.
SPORTS
Good news for Longhorn fans who use YouTube TV to watch games.
Texas Football @ Ohio State Preview + Week 1 CFB Talk | 8/27/25
MLB: Victories for the two Texas home teams last night.
In Houston, Yordan Alvarez homered for the first time since returning from a fractured right hand, helping Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 4-0 on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
In Arlington, Adolis García, Joc Pederson and Kyle Higashioka each hit a three-run homer, Corey Seager went deep a team-leading 21st time and the Texas Rangers blew out the Los Angeles Angels 20-3 on Wednesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Rangers are off today.
AL WEST STANDINGS
MLS: Next game for Austin FC:
The Comanches rode through history on horseback, earning a reputation as formidable foes on the frontier. The Indigenous tribe both served as witness and played an active role in every era of Texas history.
