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This week, the Texas legislature adjourned sine die from the first special session of the year, and immediately gaveled back in for a second special session. The governor’s proclamation calling the new session is identical to the first, except for the addition of an additional emergency item related to ensuring and enhancing youth camp safety.
This special session, like the first one, is ostensibly focused on disaster relief and recovery; cutting property taxes; supporting human trafficking survivors; eliminating the STAAR test; establishing commonsense THC regulations; and a variety of other state policy matters—but a common thread running through the 89th Texas Legislature is lawmakers’ increasingly hostile posture toward religious expression.
In just these two special sessions, we’ve seen legislators threaten the religious freedom of all Texans with legislation that would:
- Advance racially discriminatory redistricting that defies the racial justice commitments of our faith traditions.
- Undermine compassionate disaster response while impugning the work and integrity of faith-based volunteers and ignoring faith-supported disaster and climate solutions.
- Lay the groundwork to undo the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) protections that all faith communities depend on.
- Silence local government voices—key partners for place-based ministries— and limit representation of local communities at the Capitol.
Texas Impact’s Leadership Council invites Texans of faith and conscience to join us in bearing witness to and condemning the extreme politics oppressing our state, and calling on legislators to enact and preserve policies that honor the dignity of all people, respect all faiths, and advance the common good. |
