State Capitol Highlights

Governor raises four issues to emergency status

Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his second biennial “State of the State” address to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 31.

In exercising his prerogative as governor, Abbott presented a short list of emergency items for lawmakers to enact during the 85th regular session of the Texas Legislature:

- Improvements to Child Protective Services;

- A ban on sanctuary cities;

- Ethics reforms; and

- Approve a resolution calling for a convention of states.

Abbott said a convention of the states is needed to propose constitutional amendments in order to “fix America” because of a federal government “grown out of control.” It would take a two-thirds majority, or 34 of the 50 state legislatures, to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution.

In addition to the emergency items, Abbott called for:

- A hiring freeze, to be observed at all state agencies through the month of August. The freeze, he said, would give the state $200 million to use on other budget items;

- More attention to pre-kindergarten programs and the funding of them;

- Full funding of the Texas Enterprise Fund, a financial instrument used by the governor’s office to help lure big businesses to the Lone Star State; and

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