Capitol Weekly

August 29, 2025

SPECIAL SESSION

The Second Called Special Session of the Texas Legislature continues. Lawmakers are eyeing a possible Sine Die adjournment next week, but not without tempers flaring along the way. Last week, Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) tried to launch a filibuster to stall the new congressional redistricting maps, but the effort ended almost as soon as it began when Republican senators accused her of using her planned filibuster as a fundraising stunt. Foiling her filibuster, the Senate quickly passed the new Congressional redistricting bill, which is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. In true Texas political fashion, Senator Alvarado’s actions led to legislation filed that would ban fundraising during special sessions altogether.

On Monday, the House passed SB 10 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) which would lower the threshold at which local governments must seek voter permission to raise property taxes. The Senate version lowers the growth rate from 3.5% to 2.5%, requiring voter approval for any local government tax increase above that. The House added an amendment that further lowers that threshold to 1% for all cities and counties. The Senate refused to concur with the House’s changes, so the bill is now in a conference committee where representatives from each chamber will attempt to work out a compromise before it is sent to the Governor.

The Legislature continues to prioritize water and passed additional legislation this session. HB 27 by Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) pauses new groundwater permits in East Texas while the state studies aquifer capacity, and SB 18 by Sen. Zaffirini (D-Laredo) exempts certain dams and reservoirs from state permitting to promote flood prevention and infrastructure. SB 18 now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

On Tuesday, the House passed several priority bills. HB 8 by Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Killeen), which replaces the STAAR test with a series of smaller, instructionally supportive assessments aimed at improving transparency and accountability in schools. SB 3 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), requires the installation of outdoor warning sirens in flash flood-prone areas. Finally, SB 14 by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), requires municipalities to lower development fees when real estate developers use water conservation and reuse systems to incentivize sustainable growth. SB 3 and SB 14 have now been sent to the Governor where he is expected to sign them into law.

On Wednesday, the House passed HB 25 by Rep. Joanne Shofner (R-Nacogdoches), allowing over-the-counter sales of Ivermectin without a doctor’s prescription. The legislation drew criticism from Democrats and was debated on the House floor for hours. The House also passed HB 48 by Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo), which creates a working group to study alert notification systems with the goal of improving emergency communications and disaster preparedness.

On Thursday, the House debated two highly contentious, GOP priority bills causing tensions in the chamber to escalate. SB 8 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), widely known as the “bathroom bill”, mandates that individuals use restrooms and changing rooms in government owned spaces based on their sex assigned at birth. The debate spiraled and outbursts from the gallery led to protestors being escorted out. Lawmakers were shouting across the chamber as the debate devolved into sharp personal attacks. HB 7 by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), a bill banning the manufacturing and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs (“Abortion Pill Bill”), was also very contentious and forced debate late into the night. Both bills are expected to pass and be signed by Governor Abbott.

Both chambers adjourned for the holiday weekend and are set to resume their work on Tuesday with a rumored Sine Die on Wednesday.

CORPUS CHRISTI DESAL     

“Whiskey’s for drinking; Water’s for fighting!  - Mark Twain”

The battle for new water continues in Corpus Christi. In July, the Corpus Christi City Council paused the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Project until their September 2^nd Agenda to get clarification from the Texas Water Development Board as to whether SWIFT funds (State-backed low interest loans) could be diverted to a different water project.  Some councilmembers feel the price tag of the Inner Harbor project is too high and prefer to consider other projects. This has led to a month-long high-profile fight between councilmembers and other stakeholders.  Some feel this delay is a ploy by proponents of a competing Harbor Island desal project to lure the city to invest in their project which has not been permitted and most likely could not be completed in this decade. 

Corpus Christi is in Stage 3 drought restrictions and is on the verge of moving into Stage 4 Emergency drought restrictions which would promulgate at least a 25% curtailment of water to all water customers. Curtailment would be devastating to industry in the region and will cost member companies millions in lost production, significantly impact gasoline and aviation fuel production, and would threaten industry related jobs and new industry investments.

TCC has been working closely with member companies and refineries in the region to urge the City Council to move forward with the Inner Harbor project which is permitted and can provide Corpus Christians with a sustainable supply of drought proof water by the summer of 2028.

The State of Texas has made it clear to the city that the approximately $750 million of state financing can only be used for the Inner Harbor project and cannot be redirected to any other projects.  All this will come to a head on Tuesday, when the City Council will make a final decision on the future of water for the region. Makes you want some whiskey!

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If you have any questions about this report or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact Mia McCord at mccord@texaschemistry.org or Kolton McDougald at mcdougald@texaschemistry.org.