Here’s a quick recap of what happened over the last week:
Abbott Calls Special Session
Sunday was the deadline for Gov. Abbott’s final actions on all bills that were passed by the legislature in the recently concluded regular session. Abbott signed 1,155 bills into law and vetoed 28 from the session. The one bill he vetoed that will cause the most controversy is Senate Bill 3, which proposed to ban the sale of all hemp and THC related products in the state. More on that in detail below.
Along with the 28 vetoes, Abbott also announced he will call a special session to begin on Monday, July 21st. Which promises to be the first of many special sessions this summer and fall.
Along with the bills that were vetoed, the Governor identified several that will be placed on the agenda for the special session to try and address minor issues in the bills for consideration. Among those are bills related to impact fees for water projects, prosecution of persons involved in human trafficking operations, operation of cement kilns, and certain procedures regarding the judicial branch.
In addition, it is widely expected that redrawing of the state’s Congressional districts will be part of the special session agenda. President Trump has urged Texas leaders to redraw the state’s 38 Congressional districts to try and gain more Republican seats in the solidly red state. Currently, the Republicans hold a 25-12 partisan advantage in the delegation with one vacant seat.
Other items likely to be included in the call are bail reform measures, additional property tax relief measures, and legislation to ban cities and counties from using taxpayer dollars to pay for lobbyists and lobby related activities.
Lt. Governor Patrick Critical of SB 3 Veto
After Gov. Abbott announced the veto of SB 3 – the bill to ban the sale of all hemp and THC related products in the state – Lt. Governor Dan Patrick held a press conference to state his disapproval of the veto and to reiterate his total commitment to legislation banning the sale of these products.
In Abbott’s veto proclamation, he suggested setting up a regulatory structure similar to the way alcohol is regulated as a better alternative to an outright ban of THC and hemp products. As a reminder and some background – Texas has strict laws in place that only allow the sale of hemp products with a level of no more than .3% THC, and only for very specific medically related purposes. Retailers have exploited a loophole in state and federal laws relative to hemp production that has allowed them to sell many different types of products with much higher levels of THC that produce a high associated with marijuana. The market for these products – vapes, drinks, gummies, and smokes – has exploded to over 8,000 retail outlets in the last three years.
Prior to this session, Lt. Governor Patrick made the passage of SB 3 – a total ban of any product containing more than .3% THC – a top priority. The legislature agreed and passed the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. The veto by Abbott came as a surprise to Patrick and to most legislators.
During his press conference on Monday, Patrick said he would not agree to the proposal by Abbott to set up a regulatory structure for the regulation of THC products, and he equated the proposal to legalizing marijuana in Texas. Patrick went on to say that a regulatory structure for an illegal product is not feasible for a market that has grown too large, and is a dangerous product, especially to children. Patrick reiterated several times that he would not allow the legalization of marijuana in Texas, which in essence is what Abbott is proposing.
Patrick said he was caught off guard by the veto, saying that Abbott had recently told him he would sign the bill banning the products. Patrick also criticized Abbott for not respecting the will of the legislature and questioned his legal arguments as a basis for creating a regulatory structure. Abbott gave no input on the legislation during the regular session and did not make any public statements about his position on the proposal.
This scenario sets up an interesting dynamic heading into the first special session. Abbott has already committed to have legislation on the call to establish the new regulatory scheme. But Patrick said there is no way he would support the legislation, making its passage in the Senate virtually impossible.
Republican Party Calls for Items in Special Session
The Republican Party of Texas is calling on Gov. Abbott to open the call to several issues to be addressed during the special session that failed during the regular session. The State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) unanimously adopted a resolution that calls for the elimination of all property taxes, further expanded homestead exemption (current proposal to be voted on in November is $160,000), a prohibition on cities and counties from paying for lobbyists or lobby related activities, bail reform to include the automatic denial of bail to undocumented defendants, the banning of abortion inducing medication, and legislation to require the use of bathrooms and locker rooms only by sex assigned at birth.
The SREC also updated its rules related to voting and elections to require all voters to register as Republicans with the Secretary of State before being allowed to vote in any Republican primary election. Several proposals were introduced this session to “close” the primary process in Texas elections by requiring all voters to register their party affiliation before being allowed to vote in primary elections. None of the proposals received a hearing at the committee level for consideration.
Senator Hancock Resigns
Republican state Senator Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills near Fort Worth resigned this week to eventually take an appointment as interim state Comptroller. Current Comptroller Glenn Hegar will resign on July 1st to take a new job as Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
Hancock was first elected to the Senate in 2012 and will serve as Chief Clerk of the Comptroller’s office until Hegar’s resignation next week. To accept the appointment as interim Comptroller, Hancock had to resign. Under state law, the Governor cannot appoint a sitting legislator that must be confirmed by the Senate.
Upon his resignation, Hancock immediately announced he will seek the full four-year term in 2026, also receiving the endorsement of Gov. Abbott in the process. Hancock joins former state Senator Don Huffines and Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick in the field of candidates seeking the Republican nomination next year. Even with the brief incumbency, Hancock will face a stiff uphill battle for the party nomination. He has no statewide name identification and has very few accomplishments in the Senate. Craddick has served on the Railroad Commission since 2012 and Huffines established a statewide presence when he challenged Gov. Abbott in the 2022 Republican primary, eventually losing badly to the incumbent Governor. Hancock will also be targeted by conservatives in the party who view him as far too moderate after his vote to convict AG Ken Paxton in last year’s impeachment trial. He was one of only two Republican members of the Senate to vote for conviction.
Other hurdles for Hancock to overcome are the lingering questions regarding the validity of the appointment. In addition to Hancock having to resign to not subject a sitting legislator to confirmation, the state constitution prohibits anyone from holding an office in both the executive and legislative branches of state government. The constitution calls for any elected official to continue to perform their duties until a successor is elected. Huffines has already called into question the legitimacy of the appointment, saying Hancock is violating the constitution by continuing his responsibilities as a member of the Senate while assuming the job of Comptroller.
Now that Hancock has resigned, Gov. Abbott must call a special election to fill the seat. Any special election would be to serve out the remainder of the current term that ends in December of 2026. Rep. Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth has already jumped into the race. Other area Reps. Gio Capriglione and David Lowe have not expressed interest in running.
El Paso Tops Migrant Encounters
El Paso leads the nation in the number of detainees attempting to cross into the US illegally. The El Paso sector of the US Border Patrol recorded 2,014 encounters in May, most of whom were Mexican citizens. This comes at a time when federal authorities are reporting a 93% decrease in encounters compared to the year before. In total, CBP reported 8,725 apprehensions in the month of May throughout the entire border region. The Tucson region reported the second most encounters with 1,439 apprehensions.
Even with encounters and apprehensions at historically low levels, the cartels remain active with their drug and human smuggling operations. CBP agents this week reported seizing $815,475 in cash from an outbound vehicle at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Hidalgo County. The cash was reportedly hidden “within the vehicle”, a Honda SUV. The cash was most likely profits secured from drug and smuggling activities. Earlier in May, agents in Brownsville reported seizing $184,000 in cash from a vehicle also headed to Mexico. CBP agents call interceptions such as this key to disrupting criminal networks in Mexico. So far in 2025, the CBP has seized $7.3 million in cash from outbound vehicles at border crossings.
It is not a crime to carry large amounts of cash, but anything over $10,000 must be properly declared. The cash from the Honda SUV was discovered during a routine inspection after the driver was questioned and did not declare the cash during the interrogation by CBP agents.
Nuclear Waste Coming to Texas
The US Supreme Court issued an opinion this week that will pave the way for construction of a facility to house nuclear waste in Andrews County in west Texas. Interim Storage Partners holds a long-standing permit from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission that has been challenged for years by state officials. The legislature passed a law in 2021 to ban the disposal of nuclear waste anywhere in the state. Texas joined a group of nearby landowners to sue the NRC saying the permit was issued in err, and their arguments were upheld by the federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
However, the US Supreme Court ruled that neither the state of Texas nor the landowners were part of the NRC’s process when granting the permit, and therefore ordered all injunctions against the permit removed, thus allowing the company to move forward with the facility.
Interim Storage Partners said it will construct a facility capable of holding up to 5,500 tons of spent nuclear fuel rods from nuclear power plants and 231 million tons of radioactive waste. These figures are from a recent Associated Press story on the company. According to the company’s website, the spent nuclear fuel will be stored in above ground cement-based modules with the ability to withstand all natural disasters including earthquakes and tornados.
Political Notes
Senator Robert Nichols – Republican from Jacksonville in northeast Texas – will not seek reelection in 2026. Nichols is the longest serving Republican member of the Senate, first elected in 2006. Nichols represents a solidly Republican, 18 county district running from near Tyler, through areas of deep east Texas and down to parts of Montgomery County. He currently serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. State Rep. Trent Ashby, Republican from Lufkin, immediately announced his intention to seek the Senate seat in 2026. Rhonda Ward of Nacogdoches will also join the race for the Republican nomination. Ward, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, can tout the endorsement of Ashby’s colleague, freshman Republican state Rep. Joanne Shofner of Nacogdoches.
And speaking of open Senate seats, state Rep. Nate Schatzline – Republican from Fort Worth – has announced he will run in the special election to fill the unexpired term in Senate District 9, left vacant when former Senator Kelly Hancock resigned to be appointed state Comptroller. Schatzline is a hardline conservative, serving his second term in the House. He is a former pastor who now runs for a nonprofit that works to combat human trafficking.
Senator Joan Huffman of Houston announced this week she will seek the Republican nomination for Texas Attorney General, joining her Senate colleague Mayes Middleton of Galveston and former Cruz staffer Aaron Reitz in the GOP field for the 2026 election. Huffman is from West University Place in Houston, representing a district in western Harris County that also stretches down to parts of Brazoria County. Huffman chairs the budget writing Senate Finance committee and is not up for reelection to her Senate seat until 2028, giving her the opportunity to seek higher office without having to give up her Senate seat.
Former astronaut and Space Station Commander Terry Virts announced on Monday he is running for the US Senate, becoming the first Democrat to formally enter the race. On the Republican side, current Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging incumbent US Senator John Cornyn. In his announcement, Virts says the Democrats need to evolve from their current playbook and painted himself as a “common sense” candidate. He was also critical of Paxton in his announcement, but gave no mention of Cornyn, following the assumption that Paxton is the heavy favorite to unseat the incumbent in the primary.
Embattled Fort Bend County Judge KP George has switched parties, joining the Republican Party. George is under indictment in Fort Bend County on money laundering charges stemming from misuse of campaign funds. He also faces charges of misrepresentation of identity after he used fake social media accounts to make racist charges against himself. He wasn’t welcomed into the Republican Party with open arms. The local party chair simply put out a statement saying he would wait and see what if any effect the party switch would have on his behavior moving forward.
If the legislature does change the districts to create more Republican opportunities in Congress, one district that will be targeted is District 28 in south Texas, currently represented by Democrat Henry Cuellar of Laredo. Cuellar is under federal indictment for bribery and abuse of office charges. Potential Republican opponents to Cuellar – whether the district is changed or not – include Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina and 2024 Republican nominee Jay Furman. Former US Rep. Mayra Flores has already moved from McAllen to Laredo to challenge Cuellar and state Rep. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City is also a rumored candidate.
What’s Next??
The moratorium on fundraising has ended. Now that the session is over, members and all statewide elected officials can resume their fundraising for the 2026 elections. And, they have a reporting deadline of June 30th which will show the amount of campaign cash on hand leading into the campaign season.
So, this week, there were 71 members that held fundraising events to try and bolster their campaign coffers prior to the reporting deadline.
On the legislative front, we are all now waiting on Gov Abbott’s reaction to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s declaration on the legislation regarding banning hemp and THC products and for other matters that may be added to the upcoming special session.