By Gary Emmert

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Capitol is bracing for a midsummer return as Governor Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session beginning July 21, setting the stage for renewed debate over some of the state’s most contentious bills. The announcement follows a dramatic weekend in which Abbott vetoed 28 bills passed during the 89th Regular Legislative Session—including the high-profile Senate Bill 3, which sought to ban consumable hemp products containing THC.

Abbott’s decision to veto SB 3 just hours before it would have become law marked a rare public split with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who championed the bill. While Patrick decried the veto as a betrayal of law enforcement and families affected by substance abuse, Abbott framed it as a call for regulation over prohibition, signaling a more nuanced approach to the booming hemp industry.

“This session has seen monumental success, but there is more we can do,” Abbott said in a press release. “Working with the Texas Legislature, we delivered results that will benefit Texans for generations to come”.

The special session agenda includes six bills Abbott vetoed, among them:

• SB 3: Regulation of hemp-derived THC products
• SB 648: Real property recording requirements
• SB 1278: Legal protections for trafficking victims
• SB 1758: Environmental regulations near semiconductor facilities
• SB 2878: Judicial branch operations
• SB 1253: Water project fees and well regulations

Notably absent from the agenda is any mention of redistricting, despite reported pressure from former President Donald Trump to redraw Texas’ congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The special session underscores the growing tension within Texas’ Republican leadership, as Abbott balances conservative priorities with economic and public health concerns. The hemp industry, valued in the billions, has rallied against SB 3, warning of job losses and a surge in black-market sales if the ban were enacted.

As lawmakers prepare to reconvene, Texans can expect a month of spirited debate, political maneuvering, and high-stakes policymaking. Whether the session will bring resolution or deepen divides remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the eyes of the Lone Star State will be watching.