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Texas lawmakers file bills in advance of special session

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Texas lawmakers file bills in advance of special session


Texas lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday for a special session called to work on the regulation of THC and 17 other items from Gov. Greg Abbott.

Abbott initially called for the session after vetoing a ban on most hemp products.

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THC is the psychoactive compound found in hemp and marijuana.

Other topics on the special session agenda include flood response, natural disaster preparedness and redrawing the state’s congressional districts.

Lawmakers will also consider legislation that would ban abortion pills and allow for collection of DNA samples from some people crossing the border.

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THC ban

When the regular legislative session ended in June, one of the bills sent to Abbott’s desk was a ban on THC, Senate Bill 3.

The bill banned consumable THC products like vapes, gummies and drinks.

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That bill was vetoed by Abbott in a move that stunned Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who had pushed for the bill to pass all session.

In his veto, Abbott called the bill “well-intentioned” but noted it would face legal challenges.

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Abbott has called for stricter regulations of products and to prevent the sale of products to minors.

Patrick called the veto and subsequent special session a move to legalize recreational marijuana.

A poll from the University of Texas and Texas Politics Project shows that more than 50 percent of Texans do not approve of the ban.

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The Texas hemp industry now supports an estimated 50,000 jobs and generates $8 billion in annual tax revenue. 

Flood warning systems, emergency communications, relief funding

Four items relate to flood response and natural disaster preparedness, marking the severity of the recent flash flooding that claimed over 100 lives in the Texas Hill Country on the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

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In the midst of search and rescue efforts, many critics have questioned the alert systems in place to warn residents before disasters of this nature occur. The special session appears to be weighted towards strengthening those systems and funding areas in need of improvement.

Those four items are:

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  • FLOOD WARNING SYSTEMS: 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 which began in early July 2025, including local match funding for jurisdictions eligible for FEMA public assistance.
  • NATURAL DISASTER PREPARATION & RECOVERY: Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters.

The Texas House and Senate have each appointed a nine-person committee ahead of the special session. The committees will work together and hold a meeting at the Capitol on July 23 and another meeting in Kerr County the next week.

Congressional redistricting

Abbott has called for lawmakers to take up redistricting as part of the legislative session.

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The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Abbott saying four congressional districts in Texas show signs of racial gerrymandering that is unconstitutional.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he wanted to gain five Republican seats in the U.S. House through the state’s redistricting efforts.

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The move sparked anger from Democrats, who could consider filibusters and possibly breaking quorum to prevent it from happening.

Abortion pills, DNA testing and other special session topics

Lawmakers have already filed several bills for the special session.

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Among the bills, some look to block the sale of abortion-inducing drugs in the state and create penalties for transporting a minor across state lines for an abortion.

Another would require people to use the bathroom, locker room and other similar public spaces that match their biological gender.

A bill filed by Rep. Terri Leo Wilson would allow for DNA collection and testing of certain people crossing the Texas-Mexico border for use by the Department of Homeland Security.

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What is a special session?

According to the Texas Constitution, the governor can call a special session “at any time and for any reason.”

The reasons for calling the special session must be laid out, and only topics listed by the governor’s proclamation can be taken up during the session.

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Special sessions are limited to a maximum of 30 days, but are not required to be that long.

The Source: Information in this article comes from bills filed in the Texas legislature and previous FOX 7 coverage.

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Austin, TX

Building cleared after non-credible bomb threat made in Downtown Austin

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Building cleared after non-credible bomb threat made in Downtown Austin


A Downtown Austin building was cleared after a bomb threat was made Saturday night.

Police say that the call came in at 9:38 p.m., after which officers arrived to the scene and cleared a nearby building at 311 E 6th St.

ALSO: H-E-B delights Austin airport travelers with surprise gift vending machine pop-up

The threat was found to not be credible, and no one was injured.

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Police say no one is in custody and they will be clearing the scene shortly.



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Austin, TX

The richest small town in Texas tops our most popular Austin stories

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The richest small town in Texas tops our most popular Austin stories


Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson held a press conference Friday to discuss a new deal with Southwest Airlines and its expected impact on the city.

The deal, approved Thursday by the Austin City Council, awards Southwest $2,750 for each new Austin-based hire over the next five years. In exchange, the airline plans to add 2,000 high-paying jobs with an average salary of $180,000 and invest in local workforce initiatives, including the city’s new Austin Infrastructure Academy.

Officials say the deal will strengthen Southwest’s presence at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where the carrier already handles more than 40 percent of all passenger traffic.

The partnership is expected to bring in nearly $20 million in local tax revenue, and the incentive program will last for five years and pay Southwest up to $5.5 million.

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Mayor Watson said the agreement will not only create new jobs in Austin but will improve the overall experience at AUS.

“We’re building lives and careers at the same time we’re building tarmacs and terminals,” Watson said. “Southwest is choosing Austin because our people, our workforce, and our future make us a smart investment. This deal creates thousands of good-paying jobs, improves the passenger experience, and ensures the benefits flow directly to Austin workers, families, and tourists. This agreement is proof that Austin means business and cares about the success of its people.”

Read the full story at KVUE.com.



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Austin, TX

Austin, TX, Proves It’s a Ski Town at Ikon Pass Stoke Night – SnowBrains

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Austin, TX, Proves It’s a Ski Town at Ikon Pass Stoke Night – SnowBrains


Austin Loro Stoke
Austin skier Ricky Stillwell and his son are stoked to be heading to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Alyeska this coming season. | Photo: Bob Witowski

You might ask, “Why is there an Ikon Pass Stoke Event in Austin, Texas?” 

Fact: There are more skiers and snowboarders in Texas than in Colorado. According to a 2017 Snowsports Industry Association study, Texas is home to roughly 800,000 skiers and riders, compared to Colorado’s 500,000. That impressive number puts Texas third in the nation for total ski and snowboard participants, behind only California and New York. Texans alone make up about 6% of all U.S. ski and snowboarders. And the proof is on the slopes: Ski areas in Colorado and New Mexico report that a staggering 70% of their out-of-state visitors hail from the Lone Star State. Yes—the legend of Texans being everywhere on the mountain is absolutely true.

Fact: Every Texan who skis is a destination skier. With no local ski resorts that are a quick Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City or short interstate drive away, Texans go big: they travel, stay longer, and spend more at Ikon Pass Destinations. As Kristin Rust, Vice President of Communications for Alterra Mountain Company, puts it, “Texas is a huge market, and Austin has a great number of pass holders.” With Ikon Pass offering such a wide network of resorts, and Texas home to so many skiers, Austin is a natural place for a Stoke Event.

This year’s Ikon Pass Stoke Event took place at Loro, the wildly popular South Lamar hangout blending Asian smokehouse flavors with laid-back Austin vibes. The gathering drew a lively crowd of local Ikon Pass holders. Guests enjoyed a spread of standout dishes—Oak-Grilled Edamame, Wonton Chips and Dip, Arugula & Melon Salad, and Oak-Smoked Brisket—paired with beer, wine, soft drinks, and Austin-meets-après cocktails like an Old Fashioned and, of course, the non-traditional slope-side margarita, a playful nod to Jimmy Buffett and the city where Margaritaville was written.

Austin Loro StokeAustin Loro Stoke
Adam, Kailee, and Darius leaning into the Austin ski vibe and good times at Loro in Austin. | Photo: Bob Witowski

Attendance was strong, and the outdoor, under-the-oaks setting added an easy, welcoming feel. The energy was high as skiers swapped plans for upcoming trips to Ikon Pass destinations including SkiBig3 in Banff, Jackson Hole, Killington, the six Utah resorts on the pass, and the perennial “home resorts” for Texans—those in Colorado and New Mexico. Members of Austin Skiers, the city’s long-standing ski and travel club, were out in force and buzzing about club trips to the Ikon Pass resorts of Snowmass, Mt. Bachelor, SkiBig3, and Steamboat.

Austin Loro Ikon Pass StokeAustin Loro Ikon Pass Stoke
Austin Skiers—Joyce, Ann, Crystal, Bob, Susie, and Stuart—are buzzing with excitement as they get ready to chase fresh snow at their favorite Ikon Pass destinations this season. | Photo: Bob Witowski

A major hit of the night was the CMH Heli-Skiing virtual-reality experience, a full 3D immersion complete with helicopter-ride visuals of the Canadian Rockies and a run down untouched powder with a small ski group. Riders found themselves carving turns, watching skiers float past, and looking up, down, and across the alpine terrain—an astonishingly vivid taste of what a heli-ski trip feels like. The CMH station stayed packed all evening.

Austin Loro StokeAustin Loro Stoke
CMH Heli Skiing’s Virtual Reality experience amped up the stoke and had everyone dreaming of deep turns this season. | Photo: CMH Heli Skiing, Fox Wang

The night wrapped up with a spirited swag giveaway, where lucky attendees scored prizes including Yeti mugs, a coveted Shot-Ski, and an Ikon Pass. What a great way to top off a fantastic night!

In the end, the Ikon Pass Stoke Event proved to be a fantastic celebration of Austin’s vibrant ski community—a chance to meet fellow snow lovers, swap stories, and get excited about the season ahead. For one night, Austin truly became a “Ski Town.”

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