Patrick Signals Final Week as Second Special Session Winds Down

When Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggested in early August that the Legislature was entering its “last full week” of work, it seemed plausible. The first special session had sputtered, with the Texas House paralyzed by Democrats’ quorum break. But Patrick’s remark quickly proved premature: just days later, Governor Greg Abbott convened a second special session on August 15, restarting the Legislature’s work on redistricting, disaster relief, and other priorities.

On August 18, House Democrats ended their two-week walkout and returned to Austin, restoring the quorum needed for business. Their return unlocked the stalled agenda, particularly the Republican-backed congressional redistricting maps that had triggered the quorum break in the first place.

With quorum restored, Republicans wasted no time advancing new congressional maps designed to cement GOP gains. The state Senate passed the maps on party lines, and Governor Abbott signaled he would sign them, potentially creating up to five new Republican-leaning U.S. House seats for the 2026 midterms.

Flood Relief and Other Priorities

Lawmakers also took up other pressing matters. After deadly July 4 flooding in Central Texas, the Legislature moved quickly on disaster preparedness and camp safety bills. The House passed House Bill 1, a measure requiring youth camps to have evacuation plans and banning camps from floodplains, while the Senate advanced a $240 million disaster recovery bill, Senate Bill 1. 

Abbott’s expanded call also placed items such as eliminating the STAAR standardized test, regulating abortion pills, property tax reform, and restricting taxpayer-funded lobbying on the agenda.Patrick himself applauded the Senate for moving rapidly through most of Abbott’s agenda during the second special session. In an August 19 press release, he credited the chamber for “advancing the majority of bills” on the governor’s call, including flood recovery and camp safety measures.

Later on August 27, during a moving tribute to retiring Sen. Brian Birdwell, Patrick said that unless another special session is called, this might be Birdwell’s last night on the Senate floor, as reported by the Quorum Report.