In its second week, the Texas Legislature’s special session continues to focus on three key issues:
- a proposed redrawing of congressional maps
- legislative responses to catastrophic flooding
- a renewed push to ban certain THC products
Where Does Redistricting Stand?
Republican leaders in the Texas House unveiled a proposed congressional map Wednesday that would significantly alter the state’s U.S. House representation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The proposal could shift five current Democratic-held seats — three in major metro areas and two in the Rio Grande Valley — into likely Republican control. The new configuration would give Republicans 30 of Texas’s 38 congressional districts.
A public hearing on the proposed map is, at the time of this writing, ongoing in the Texas House. A final vote could come as early as next week. If adopted, experts anticipate immediate legal challenges under the Voting Rights Act. Critics argue the proposed map could reduce the voting power of Texans of color. However, Republicans have emphasized recent gains among Hispanic voters and noted that four of the five redrawn seats would have Hispanic majorities.
Public testimony during recent hearings was overwhelmingly opposed to the redistricting plan. At a packed hearing at the University of Texas at Arlington, nearly all of the more than 500 registered speakers voiced concern that the process could diminish community representation and confuse voters ahead of the next election cycle.
Where Does Flood Relief Infrastructure Stand?
Lawmakers also continue to respond to the July 4 floods that killed at least 136 Texans, including 108 in Kerr County. The session’s first week included testimony from emergency officials, including W. Nim Kidd, the state’s emergency management chief, who told legislators that current systems failed to provide adequate early warnings and coordination.
On Thursday, legislators held a field hearing in Kerrville to hear from affected residents directly. Several lawmakers have also raised questions about the role of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, which reduced its tax rate in recent years rather than investing in upgraded alert systems.
Where Does the STAAR Test Stand?
While no STAAR-specific legislation has passed yet this session, several education-related bills have been filed. The Legislature has not scheduled a public hearing for any education-related bills, but when lawmakers do, the public will receive a 24-hour notice beforehand.
The special session runs through Aug. 19, and Texas AFT will continue to monitor and provide weekly updates.