Governor Abbott releases proclamation for third special session

Texas Legislature Privatization | Vouchers
Date Posted: 10/06/2023 | Author: Tricia Cave
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) released the long-anticipated proclamation for a third special session Thursday, and as expected, private school vouchers topped the agenda. In addition to vouchers, the Governor is asking the Legislature to address immigration, the border, public safety issues, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The full list of items on the Governor’s call are as follows:
- Legislation providing education savings accounts for all Texas schoolchildren
- Legislation to do more to reduce illegal immigration by creating a criminal offense for illegal entry into this state from a foreign nation and authorizing all licensed peace officers to remove illegal immigrants from Texas.
- Legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by increasing the penalties for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house.
- Legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by providing more funding for the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure.
- Legislation concerning public safety, security, environmental quality, and property ownership in areas like the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County, Texas.
- Legislation prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers.
Noticeably absent from the Governor’s proclamation is legislation to address teacher pay and school funding, both of which are items House members have stated were priorities in this special session. Neither item was addressed in the regular session, leaving schools without additional funding to combat rising inflation since 2019’s HB 3 was passed, and leaving teachers without pay raises amid a national teacher shortage.
The third special session begins Monday, Oct. 9, and will last no longer than 30 days. If a voucher does not pass during this special session, Abbott has stated he intends to call yet another special session. Stay tuned to Teach the Vote for special session coverage starting next week.
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What''s the point of having ELECTED members of our legislature if the governor is basically going to require them to vote the way he wants them to or he''ll keep costing the citizens of Texas for additional special sessions until they do? Does he think HE''S king? (Republics don''t have kings!!!)