Governor Greg Abbott has called the Legislature back for a second special session of the 87th Texas Legislature to begin at noon on Saturday, August 7th. All of the 11 items on the call for the first session are on the second call plus 6 items added by the Governor for this session.

Only items included on the “call” can be considered by the Legislature. That will not preclude members from introducing bills on random other topics and then try to demonstrate they are somehow a part of one of the call subjects.

Items included by the Governor include bail reform, election integrity, federal relief appropriations, education, border security, social media censorship, funding for the legislature, family violence prevention, youth sports, abortion-inducing drugs, thirteenth check, critical race theory, appropriations for funds generated from taxes this biennium, but not allocated by the legislature, primary elections, radioactive waste, employment and legislative quorum requirements.

Some items are contentious for the members of the Democratic Party Caucus.

“Election integrity” is identified by the Democrats as voter suppression and it is the issue that sent House Democrats to Washington during the first special session to break quorum and stop all legislative activity. “Border security” could include appropriating money for addition manpower on the border and completing the border wall. “Funding for the legislature” means restoring funds to pay the staff of the legislature which the Governor used a line item veto to strike from the budget.

“Youth sports” is an effort to limit the participation of high school athletes to teams based on the gender assigned on their birth certificate. “Critical race theory” is aimed at the state determining how race is taught in public schools in Texas. “Legislative quorum requirements” may include reducing the number of members present to constitute a quorum for doing business in the legislature. This will require an amendment to the state constitute and requires a 75% majority in the House and Senate and an affirmative vote of the public.

It is still not clear if the Democrats will return from D.C. on Saturday to participate in the second special session. The Governor has said he will continue to call special sessions until he is satisfied with the legislation sent to him.