This special session of the 89th Legislature opened with no movement on STAAR reform or other priority education legislation.
Instead, congressional redistricting has emerged as the dominant issue, fundamentally reshaping legislative priorities. Republicans have launched a rare mid-decade redraw of congressional districts, reportedly seeking to create up to five additional GOP‑leaning U.S. House seats, a move critics see as a power grab timed ahead of the 2026 elections.
At the first public hearing, GOP lawmakers offered no new maps, few constituents spoke in favor of the redistricting effort, and testimony was overwhelmingly critical, describing the effort as partisan and potentially violating minority voting rights..
Meanwhile, the Texas Senate’s State Affairs committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 5, which would ban consumable hemp products containing any measurable amount of THC and impose criminal penalties for violations.
What Can I Do?
Public participation opportunities are ongoing: the House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting is holding hearings in Houston (July 26 at 11 a.m.) and Arlington (July 28 at 5 p.m.), with options to attend in person or submit written comments via the state legislature’s online portal. If you want to make sure your voice is heard in this process, there are TWO hearings over the weekend and early next week:
- Saturday, July 26: Houston (University of Houston Main Campus)
- Monday, July 28: Arlington (The University of Texas at Arlington)
If you can attend any of these dates, register here for the hearing information!