Special Session Update
Governor Abbott has dragged lawmakers into back-to-back special sessions this summer. These 30-day sessions are limited to issues he dictates, and, surprising no one, he’s using them to serve the GOP’s political interests, not the people.
The first special session had a packed agenda, including flood relief after the tragedy in Central Texas, a THC ban, and, among other far-right political stunts, a call for mid-decade redistricting.
Special session #1 recap:
Abbott and Republicans tried to force through a shameless, mid-decade redistricting scheme — directly requested by Trump — to lock in GOP power for another decade.
House Democrats broke quorum, leaving the state to shine a national spotlight on Texas.
Because Abbott pushed redistricting so aggressively, nothing got done — not even flood relief for Central Texas families.
Special session #2 recap:
When House Democrats returned, Gov. Abbott immediately called a second special session. He, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows broke their promise to Camp Mystic victims to prioritize flooding response, instead immediately taking action to ram through the Trump-backed, racist congressional maps and passing other hateful legislation.
The special session, wasted on cruelty and control, ended early Thursday morning, Sept. 4.
“This session was never about solving problems; it was about silencing people.” – TFN President Felicia Martin
Key bills that passed or failed:
HB 4 – Redistricting power grab (Signed by the governor)
Learn more: Governor Abbott Signs Gerrymandered Redistricting Map into Law, Silencing Texans’ Voices
SB 6 – Ban on consumable THC products (DEAD)
HB 7 – Abortion pill ban (Sent to the governor)
Learn more: Texas House Advances Legislation Banning the Mailing of Abortion Medication, Escalating Threats to Texans’ Health and Fundamental Freedoms
SB 8 – Bill banning trans people from public gendered spaces (Sent to the governor)
Learn more: Texas House Advances Bathroom Ban Bill, Endangering Trans Texans’ Safety and Dignity
On this page, you’ll find information on the most consequential bills that passed or died during the 2025 Legislative Session and ways you can stay involved in the fight for change.
Legislative adv. paid for by Texas Freedom Network
This Sine Die, TFN Vows to Hold Lawmakers Accountable, Recognizes Advocates Who Fought For Texans During 89th Legislative Session
Learn how the bills passed during the latest legislative session will affect you and your community with our 89th Legislative Session Recap series.
TFN Explains: Senate Bill 1257
Learn more about Senate Bill 1257, requiring insurance companies to cover unlimited liability for “all possible adverse consequences” related to gender transition-related care, passed during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
TFN Explains: House Bill 229
Learn more about House Bill 229, mandating a binary definition of sex based solely on reproductive anatomy, passed during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
TFN Explains: House Bill 1106
Learn more about House Bill 1106, changing the definition of child abuse and neglect, passed during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
TFN Explains: Senate Bill 13
Learn more about Senate Bill 13, a bill censoring library materials, passed during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
TFN Explains: Senate Bill 12
Learn more about Senate Bill 12, passed during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
Bills that Passed or Failed in the 2025 Legislative Session
This is not an exhaustive list of the bills we monitored. The governor had until June 22 to sign bills into law or veto them. If he took no action on a bill by that date, it would become law. Most new laws will take effect Sept. 1, 2025.
On mobile? Scroll to the right for more bill details.
| Bill Number | Issue Area(s) | Description | For or Against? | Status | The Latest from TFN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB 2 | Public Education | Creates a school voucher program using taxpayer dollars to help cover private and religious school tuition. | Against | Signed by governor | Governor Abbott Signs Reckless Voucher Bill, Betraying Texas Students and Families |
| SB 10 | Public Education, Religious Freedom | Would require all Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. | Against | Signed by governor | Governor Abbott Signs Ten Commandments Bill Into Law, Forcing State-Sanctioned Religion Into Texas Classrooms |
| SB 11 | Public Education, Religious Freedom | Would mandate a daily period for prayer and Bible reading in Texas public schools. | Against | Signed by governor | Governor Abbott Signs New Law Mandating Prayer in Schools, Violating Texans’ Constitutional Rights |
| SB 12 | Public Education, LGBTQIA+ Equality | Places new restrictions on classroom instruction and student activities, limits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in public schools, and places constraints on curriculum content. | Against | Signed by governor | Governor Abbott Codifies Discrimination Against Students with SB 12, Targeting DEI in Texas Public Schools |
| SB 13 | Public Education, LGBTQIA+ Equality, Censorship | A book-banning bill that would overhaul how public school library materials are selected and reviewed. | Against | Signed by governor | With New Book Ban Law, Governor Abbott Pushes Texas Public Schools Into an Era of State-Sanctioned Censorship |
| SB 16 | Voting Rights | Would require people registering to vote to submit documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport. | Against | Dead | Texas Freedom Network and Allies Reject Voter Suppression During HB 5337 (Companion Bill) Hearing |
| SB 33 | Reproductive Rights | Would bar local governments from providing practical support to Texans forced to leave the state for abortion care. | Against | Signed by governor | Texas Bans Local Governments from Providing Transportation, Lodging for Abortion Seekers |
| SB 202 | Public Education | Would allow each member of the State Board of Education (SBOE) to employ a person to assist in performing the member’s duties. | For | Dead | |
| SB 810 | Public Education, LGBTQIA+ Equality | Would allow educators to deliberately misgender students with no consequences or accountability, even if it violates local policies. | Against | Dead | |
| SB 1257 | LGBTQIA+ Equality | Would effectively create a discriminatory “Trans Tax” by requiring insurance companies to cover unlimited liability for “all possible adverse consequences” related to gender transition-related care. | Against | Signed by governor | Texas House Passes SB 1257, Bill Attacking Insurance Coverage for Transition-Related Care |
| SB 2880 | Reproductive Rights | Would have criminalized all forms of support for abortion care, including sharing information, mailing of abortion pills, providing travel assistance, or financial support, even if the abortion is conducted in a state where this healthcare is legal. | Against | Dead | |
| HB 229 | LGBTQIA+ Equality | Would define “sex” in state law as either male or female, based solely on biological reproductive systems. | Against | Signed by governor | Governor Abbott Signs HB 229, Codifying Discrimination Against Transgender and Intersex Texans |
| HB 311 | Voting Rights | Would have allowed eligible voters to register online, bringing Texas up to date with the 43 other states that offer online voter registration. | For | Dead | Texas House Committee Fails to Advance Online Voter Registration Bill |
| HB 1106 | LGBTQIA+ Equality | Would amend the Texas Family Code to clarify that refusing to affirm a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation, including refusing to use their updated pronouns or name, even if it has been legally changed, does not constitute child abuse. | Against | Signed by governor | Texas Governor Abbott Signs HB 1106 Into Law, Endangering LGBTQIA+ Youth by Undermining Their Safety and Dignity |
| HB 1773 | Public Education | Would allow the board of trustees of certain school districts to create a nonvoting student trustee position on the board. | For | Dead | |
| HB 3225 | Censorship | Would require public libraries to require parental consent for anyone under 18 to check out books deemed to contain “sexually explicit” material. | Against | Dead |
Howdy! Welcome to The Lege Lowdown! Each month during the 89th Legislative Session, we brought you a pretty little tied-up overview of key bills related to our issue areas: public education, religious freedom, LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive rights, and any big happenings in immigration and voting rights.
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The Last Lege Lowdown
Sine Die was on Monday, June 2, and that doozy of an 89th Texas Legislative Session is over. This is the Last Lege Lowdown!
The April Lege Lowdown
In the April Lege Lowdown, we’ll cover key bills in pub ed, religious freedom, LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive rights, and voting rights.
The March Lege Lowdown
In the March Lege Lowdown, we’ll cover key bills in pub ed, religious freedom, LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive rights, and voting rights.
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