Gov. Greg Abbott calls special legislative session for redistricting starting Sept. 20

ByJames Barragan, The Texas Tribune

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Redistricting in Texas explained and what it means for you

If you ever looked at a congressional district, you might have thought, "How did they come up with that?" Districts can be oddly shaped and spread over a large area. Those strange outlines are about to get, well, stranger. ABC13's Nick Natario explains how lawmakers started the process of redistricting now and what it means for you.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced a third special legislative session that will begin on Sept. 20 and tackle redistricting, restrictions on transgender student athletes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Texas Legislature now has the opportunity to redraw legislative and congressional districts in accordance with the new census numbers," Abbott said in a statement. "In addition to redistricting, there are still issues remaining that are critical to building a stronger and brighter future for all Texans."

Lawmakers, who will meet in Austin for the fourth time this year, will also be tasked with allocating $16 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds and with deciding whether state or local governments can mandate vaccines. Abbott also included on his five-item agenda a bill that would ban the tethering of dogs outside with heavy chains, which he had vetoed earlier this year.

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