Understanding special sessions of the Texas Legislature
While the 89th Texas Legislature’s regular session adjourned in early June, the Governor has called lawmakers back to the State Capitol for a special session, narrowing the agenda to a list of high-priority items. While the public spotlight often shines on the policies up for debate, the special session also brings a notable shift in the rhythm and rules of lawmaking, where compressed timelines and streamlined processes create a legislative environment distinctly different from the regular session.
What Is a Special Session?
Unlike the constitutionally required 140-day regular legislative session held every two years, a special session is a focused session of the legislature that the Governor alone can call. These sessions are limited to a maximum of 30 days, and House and Senate members are confined to addressing the issues specifically named in the Governor’s proclamation. Bills that are unrelated to those issues are generally not allowed to be considered.
In the case of this first-called special session, the Governor’s proclamation outlined a specific list of urgent or priority policy topics that includes flood and natural disaster preparedness and response, the public education assessment and accountability systems, criminal justice measures, and more. While the substance of these items is important, the framework of a special session profoundly influences how the process unfolds.
Procedural Differences During a Special Session
Understanding how special sessions work means understanding how dramatically the legislative gears shift when time is limited and the agenda is focused. This speed can benefit well-prepared advocates but can also strain stakeholders and members of the public trying to stay informed. Learn more about some of the most impactful changes so you can be prepared for what is to come:
1. Session Duration and Bill-Filing Windows
- Regular sessions allow pre-filing of bills 60 days in advance (November) of the start of the session (January).
- In contrast, a special session only lasts up to 30 days, and bill filing typically begins 30 days before or upon the Governor’s proclamation, depending on when it’s issued.
2. No Formal Bill-Filing Deadline
Unlike regular sessions, where a bill-filing deadline lands on the 60th day, special sessions have no such deadline so bills can be filed at any time. This allows lawmakers greater flexibility but can also introduce unpredictability into the legislative calendar.
3. Expedited Timelines for Hearings, Speeches, and Calendars in the House
The compressed timeline necessitates accelerated scheduling:
- Public hearing notices in the House drop from a five-day posting requirement to just 24 hours.
- Time for speeches on the House floor is limited to 10 minutes during the last 5 calendar days. That compares to 10 minutes during the last 10 days in regular session.
- Calendars and bill distributions in the House, which are posted 36 hours in advance in regular sessions, are reduced to 24 hours during a special session.
4. Fewer End-of-Session Deadlines
During a regular session, there are multiple deadlines for House and Senate bills to be reported from committees or pass on second or third reading. Those kinds of deadlines don’t exist in a special session, except for the constitutional rule requiring a bill to be reported from a committee within 72 hours of final adjournment.
5. Faster Turnaround on Conference Committee Reports (CCRs) and Amendments
- In the Senate, House amendments must be printed and distributed 24 hours in advance. That is shortened from the 48 hours during a regular session.
- CCRs follow a 24-hour distribution rule unless they fall within the special session’s final 72 hours.
What Stays Consistent
Most of the normal procedural and constitutional rules still apply during a special session. Some of them become even more important in a condensed 30-day window for lawmaking.
1. Basic Rules of Procedure
Those rules that govern basic operations of the Legislature will continue to shape how bills move through the process. Rules like reading bills on three several days, maintaining quorum, offering germane amendments, and many more will dictate the pace and flow of the legislative process.
2. Governor’s Veto Period Remains Constant
One of the few consistencies is the Governor’s veto window — still 10 days during session (excluding Sundays) and 20 days post-adjournment, regardless of whether the Legislature is in a regular or special session.
Why This Matters
The procedural shifts of a special session aren’t just internal housekeeping. These affect everything from legislative staff planning and lawmaker schedules to advocacy strategies and public engagement. The condensed timelines demand quick coordination, proactive communication, and early stakeholder mobilization. Being aware of these changes is essential to participating effectively in the process.
As the Legislature moves swiftly through the first-called special session of the 89th Legislature, following both the substance of the policies and structure of the process will be key to understanding what gets done and how it is accomplished.