The clock is ticking down on the Texas particular legislative session with one week down and about three to go.
Lawmakers are holding hearings on their redistricting plans in addition to on flood reduction measures to assist Hill Nation communities devastated by the July 4 weekend storms.
Blaise Gainey, who covers the statehouse for The Texas Newsroom, stated Democratic lawmakers are contemplating taking steps to forestall the controversial redistricting plan from getting via the Legislature.
“Democrats final week held a press convention,” he stated. “Austin Consultant Gina Hinojosa stated that she’s able to stroll out and depart and go wherever she must go with a view to cease Republicans from voting on a redistricting plan that might primarily change the maps and will give Republicans a bonus this subsequent election.”
Nevertheless, there are some issues that the pending redistricting struggle may get in the way in which of flood reduction, Gainey stated.
“Nothing can move if (sufficient Democrats) usually are not there,” Gainey stated. “In the event that they do depart, then it’ll type of look unhealthy on them as a result of they’ll depart earlier than passing any flood-related payments. What Democrats have stated is that if Republicans are severe about flood-related points being on the highest of the agenda, then they’ll move it at the beginning and depart the redistricting stuff to deal with in a while.
For Republicans, the sport plan might be the other. Maintain the flooding till later and do the redistricting first to be sure that Democrats don’t depart earlier than they’re capable of redistrict the state.”
There’s additionally the query of THC regulation, which was initially the main target of this particular session earlier than the Hill Nation flooding occurred and redistricting was added to the agenda.
In the course of the common session, lawmakers handed a THC ban that Gov. Abbott determined to veto in favor of a regulation plan.
“Nevertheless, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remains to be regular on banning THC. In truth, the Senate has moved a invoice to the Senate flooring that might do the identical factor they only tried to do through the common session. It’s a little totally different. It permits CBD and CBG to nonetheless be offered,” Gainey stated. “I believe it’s making an attempt to assist out these industries that the governor was making an attempt to save lots of by vetoing (the unique invoice).”
The governor’s want listing for this session additionally consists of elimination of the STAAR, regulation round abortion and abortion drugs, and laws to guard legislation enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel recordsdata.
Gainey stated this can be a lot to get executed in only one month.
“I believe lots of people are pondering, or a minimum of I’m for positive, that there could also be a second particular session if lawmakers aren’t capable of get all of it executed,” he stated. “‘If the Senate remains to be making an attempt to move a ban on THC, it looks like we’re perhaps a far methods aside on attending to an finish of what occurs with THC this yr.”
