What You Need to Know About All the Texas Senate Hearings Happening This Weekend

AUSTIN — The Senate is moving at breakneck speed during the opening days of the special legislative session to pass all of Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda items.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in a highly unusual move, called a meeting of the Senate at 12:01 a.m. Thursday to pass legislation that would keep alive several state agencies, the Abbott-ordered precondition for considering other measures. After passing the bill, the Senate referred other bills to committees for debate starting Friday and continuing into the weekend.We've compiled a list of upcoming committee hearings in which the public can testify about proposed laws.AbortionSeveral abortion bills, including prohibiting local governments from sending money to abortion providers and increasing reporting requirements, will be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee at 8 a.m. on Friday. Legislation banning insurance companies from covering elective abortions under primary insurance plans will be heard in the Senate Business and Commerce Committee on Saturday at 9 a.m.Lawmakers considered similar abortion bills during the regular legislative session that failed to make it through the legislative process, with many dying in the House. Lawmakers did pass sweeping anti-abortion legislation during the regular session, and the state is facing a lawsuitchallenging the prohibition of "dilation and evacuation" abortions — one of the most common second-trimester abortion procedures.  Continue reading...

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