texas

Gov. Abbott to Announce Special Session Decision

Only the governor can call "special" legislative sessions lasting 30 days apiece

Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he won't make a decision until later this week on whether to call state lawmakers back to work as their 140-day legislation session ends Monday.

His announcement comes after the house and senate did not agree on a normally routine sunset bill, which would extend the life of the Texas Medical Board.

The Senate said the house didn’t pass the bill on time, and the legislation they did send over was not a proper fix. House members said they did complete their work on time.

“My biggest disappointment, of course, is that the sunset bill did not pass," Abbott said. "This is something that is incredibly easy to achieve, that members could have very easily gotten together and agreed upon, but simply was not done."

Abbott said he's pleased that the Republican-controlled Legislature approved his priority legislation, including an anti-"sanctuary cities" measure compelling local police to enforce federal law.

He didn't say whether he'll drag lawmakers back to work to tackle another issue he's endorsed, a North Carolina-style "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people.

Only the governor can call "special" legislative sessions lasting 30 days apiece.

Abbott has long said he's wary of calling special sessions. Battles between the Republican heads of the Texas House and Senate meant legislation involving oversight of several state agencies never passed. That could make a special session inevitable.

Abbott said if there is a special session, members will convene on the topics he chooses.

NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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