Latest news with #89thRegularLegislativeSession
a day ago
- Climate
Texas flooding live updates: Death toll at 121 as search continues for the missing
Kerr County was hit the hardest, with at least 96 deaths. 3:44 At least 121 people are dead from the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country. Kerr County was hit the hardest, with at least 96 deaths, including 36 children. President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration for the county and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on the ground there. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. 5 Updates Jul 09, 2025, 5:32 PM EDT Abbott announces next legislative session will discuss improving early warning systems Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday released the planned agenda for an upcoming special legislative session. Four of the 18 agenda items were related to devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. The flood-related agenda items included legislation to improve flood warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding for hill country floods and natural disaster preparation & recovery. "We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come," said Abbott. "There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future." Abbott's Special Session to take place on Monday at 12:00 p.m. CT Jul 09, 2025, 3:13 PM EDT Kickoff meeting for Kerr County warning system project was planned for mid-July A Kerrville-area river authority executed a contract last month for a flood warning system that would've been used to help with emergency response, local government officials said in response to a request by ABC News. "An initial kickoff meeting was scheduled for mid-July," an unidentified spokesperson for the area's Joint Information Center wrote. A review of minutes of local government meetings shows that some county commissioners, sheriffs and other leaders have urged improved flood warning systems in the area for decades. During a meeting on April 17, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority's Board of Directors unanimously voted to select a company to develop a flood warning system in Kerr County. The contract was for 'a centralized dashboard to support local flood monitoring and emergency response,' which would allow emergency managers to view real-time streamflow and rainfall data all on one platform, according to local officials. The system would not issue public alerts, but would serve as "a decision-support resource intended to complement existing infrastructure," officials said. The spokesperson for the Joint Information Center told ABC News, "In light of recent events the timeline [of the new system] will be reevaluated." -ABC News' Jared Kofsky 95 dead in Kerr County, including 36 kids In hard-hit Kerr County, the death toll has climbed to 95, including 36 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a news conference Wednesday. The statewide death toll stands at 118. "Our officers spent hours going back and forth in that first hour. They evacuated over 100 homes and evacuated and rescued over 200 people," Kerrville police community services officer Jonathan Lamb said. Officers went "door-to-door, waking people up, convincing them that, 'Yes, the floodwaters are coming, and you need to leave now,'" he said. "They rescued people out of vehicles. They rescued people out of homes that were already flooding, pulling them out of windows." Lamb said the tragedy would have been worse without officers' quick-thinking. Jul 09, 2025, 10:30 AM EDT At least 173 missing in Texas At least 173 people are missing in Texas in the wake of the devastating flooding.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Abbott adds flood, redistricting to Legislature's special session agenda
After the recent flooding in the Texas Hill Country, Gov. Greg Abbott has added several items to state lawmakers' agenda during the upcoming special called session. Lawmakers are set to reconvene in Austin on July 21, after passing several sweeping public education policy changes during their regular session that ended in June; however, this time they are meeting under less opportune circumstances. "We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come," Abbott said in a news release. "There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future." As of July 9, the July 4 flash flooding has claimed the lives of at least 119 people, a toll that has steadily risen as search and rescue teams and volunteers comb through debris. According to USA TODAY, at least 27 of those deaths were children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a girls' Christian camp that sits along the river. There are still more than 170 missing people in the wake of devastating flooding along Texas' Guadalupe River and in the Concho River valley around San Angelo. However, there are other items the governor is directing lawmakers to look after that stem from vetoed bills from the regular session. Here's what's on the agenda according to the governor's proclamation: Flood warning system: Legislation to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas. Flood emergency communications: Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and other response infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas. Relief funding for Hill Country Floods: Legislation to provide relief funding for response to and recovery from the storms that began in early July, including local match funding for jurisdictions eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance. Natural disaster preparation and recovery: Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters. Eliminate STAAR testing: Legislation to eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and replace the test with effective tools to assess student progress and ensure school district accountability. Cut property taxes: Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes. Protect children from THC: Legislation making it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to children under 21 years of age. Regulate hemp-derived products: Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity. Protect unborn children: Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion. Ban taxpayer-funded lobbying: Legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded lobbying, including the use of tax dollars to hire lobbyists and payment of tax dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature. Protect human trafficking victims: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1278 from the 89th Legislature, regular session, that protects victims of human trafficking from criminal liability for non-violent acts closely tied to their own victimization. Police personnel records: Legislation that protects law enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel files. Protect women's spaces: Legislation protecting women's privacy in sex-segregated spaces. Attorney general election powers: Legislation proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the attorney general to prosecute state election crimes. State redistricting: Legislation that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice. Title theft and deed fraud: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 648 from the 89th Legislature, regular session, that provides strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud. Water project incentives: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1253 from the 89th Legislature, regular session, that authorizes political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures. State judicial department: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 2878 from the 89th Legislature, regular session, relating to the operation and administration of the judicial department of state government. The special session of both the Texas House and Senate is set to gavel in at noon on July 21 in Austin. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Gov. Abbott adds flood, redistricting items to special session
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Abbott announces redistricting will be included in Texas special session
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced on Wednesday that redistricting will be included in a legislative special session slated to take place later this month. The governor said in a release that the session will tackle '[legislation] that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.' Abbott said last month he would be calling a special session, noting a handful of bills that were either filed without signature or were vetoed that would be under consideration during the special session. However, those items did not initially include redistricting. 'We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come,' Abbott said in the release Wednesday. 'There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future.' His announcement comes after reporting last month that President Trump's political team was pushing for mid-cycle redistricting. Though Texas is not due to draw new House lines until after the 2030 Census, Republicans are looking to defend a narrow 220-212 House majority next year and are contending with the traditional headwinds typically associated with the president's party during midterm cycles. Republicans control the state legislature, governor's office and state Supreme Court, meaning the party will be able to easily overcome any Democratic opposition to redrawing the state's maps. However, it remains unclear how that litigation could play out if it makes its way through the federal court system, particularly as the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Alabama's maps in 2023 for likely violating the Voting Rights Act. Another looming question is whether redistricting the maps could endanger Republicans in nearby districts and make their seats potentially more competitive.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Abbott signs 5 laws in favor of Texas small businesses
AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed five bills into law on Thursday to support Texas small businesses by improving the process of starting a business and cutting regulations. Gov. Abbott deploys thousands of soldiers to manage planned immigration protests in Texas The following pieces of legislation passed during the 89th Regular Legislative Session and have been signed into law by Abbott: House Joint Resolution 1 House Bill 9 House Bill 346 House Bill 2464 House Bill 5195 The governor's office said each of these bills serve their own purpose within small business, like House Bill 5195 which requires each state agency to assess their website and online services to improve the user experience. This also includes House Bill 2464 which relates to regulation changes for home based businesses. These laws are linked with the Texas economy and Abbott's Small Business Freedom Council that is aimed at recognizing and cutting 'unnecessary' government regulations that Abbott said could hinder Texas small business operations. State Rep. Trent Ashby announces reelection campaign 'The Texas economy is better than ever before,' Abbott said. 'This session, we took strategic steps to boost small businesses in Texas. Even the smallest of barriers can increase the cost of doing business. We want to make it easier and less costly for businesses in Texas, especially our small business owners.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Legislature Ends, Governor Holds Final Say
(Texas Scorecard) – 140 days and 1,200 bills later, the Texas Legislature officially adjourned sine die on Monday, marking the end of the 89th Regular Legislative Session. The Latin term 'sine die' means 'without a day,' signaling that lawmakers are not scheduled to reconvene—at least not yet. While the regular session has concluded, the possibility always remains that lawmakers could be called back to the Capitol for a special session anytime during the next 18 months. That authority rests solely with Gov. Greg Abbott, who can summon the Legislature to address specific issues of his choosing. At the moment, it is not clear that Abbott will call a special session. If he does, however, one issue appears most likely to be the focus: efforts to strengthen bail reform measures aimed at keeping violent repeat offenders and illegal aliens accused of violent crimes behind bars. Those measures were killed in the House, as they did not gain enough Democrat support to garner the necessary two-thirds vote. In the meantime, Abbott holds a powerful final card: the veto pen. Under state law, the governor has 20 days after final adjournment to sign or veto any bills that have landed on his desk. That means Abbott has until June 22 to act. If he takes no action by then, those bills automatically become law. A veto from the governor outright kills a bill and prevents it from becoming law. Unlike during the session, lawmakers do not have the opportunity to override a veto after adjournment—making these next few weeks critical for any legislation that passed in the final days. As the dust settles on the regular session, attention now turns to the governor's next moves—whether that means a series of bill signings, a flurry of vetoes, or ordering the return of lawmakers to Austin for a summer overtime session. If Abbott does not order a special session, the new legislative session begins January 12, 2027.
