SD 11 SREC: District 129 Special Session Newsletter

Friends and Neighbors,

The First Called Special Session of the 89th Texas Legislature began on July 21. As you may know, a special session can only be convened by the Governor and must focus exclusively on issues specified in the Governor’s Special Session Proclamation. Governor Abbott has placed 18 important items on the agenda, including priorities such as addressing the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country, redrawing congressional districts, regulating hemp-derived THC products, property tax relief, and numerous other critical issues.

To lead the response to the devastating July 4–5 floods, which wreaked havoc across the Hill Country and tragically resulted in at least 135 lives lost, the House and Senate created Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness & Flooding. These committees have already conducted several joint hearings, including one in Kerrville, examining flood planning, infrastructure vulnerabilities, early-warning systems, and coordination among first responders to prevent future tragedies.

Just yesterday, the House Select Committee reviewed five pieces of priority legislation designed to address the issues identified in previous hearings.

Additionally, the House Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting has passed new congressional maps, ensuring Texans have fair and representative districts for future elections. Mid-decade redistricting is essential to reflect the evolving interests of voters, particularly within Hispanic communities, whose voting trends have significantly shifted. These new maps are more compact, increase majority-minority representation, and better align Texas with national norms of partisan proportionality.

Meanwhile, our colleagues in the Democratic caucus have left the state, fleeing to prevent the House from achieving the quorum necessary to consider and pass legislation. Though the House currently lacks a quorum, rest assured I remain engaged as we continue to push forward legislative action on flood relief, property tax issues, reforming the STAAR test, and all agenda items outlined by the Governor.

We remain focused on delivering solutions that matter to you—especially in our district. I appreciate your confidence and look forward to updating you as the session progresses.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

House Bill 253

Last week I filed House Bill 253 In response to recent events that have once again underscored the life-and-death importance of effective flood control.

This marks the third time I have filed this legislation because the issue is too critical to ignore.

HB 253 would reform the governance of the Harris County Flood Control District by shifting oversight from the Harris County Commissioners Court to a new board composed of both Governor appointees and County appointees. This structure would enhance accountability and broaden representation in flood control decision-making.

The bill would also allow the District to expand into neighboring counties—if approved by local voters—so flood control can be managed on a truly regional basis. After all, floodwaters don’t respect political boundaries.

Texans deserve a flood control system that prioritizes public safety, regional cooperation, and effective leadership. HB 253 is a step in that direction. You can view the full text of the bill here.

Around the District

During a break in the Special Session I was able to join Governor Abbott at Combat Marines Outdoor Gala in Houston, where he signed several peices of pro-veteran legilation into law.

How to Track Legislation

Ever wonder how the laws that impact your everyday life originate? While this graphic provides you with a simplified overview, You can walk through the entire legislative process by reading this blog post from the Texas House Republican Caucus on how a bill becomes a law in Texas. From a bill being introduced to it becoming law or vetoed, there are many steps ahead for the many bills that have been filed.