Coppell advisers outline special session priorities: flood response, property-tax relief and school policy among items to watch

Coppell City Council heard an update July 22 from Jennifer Rodriguez and John Kroll about the 2025 Texas legislative session and the special session that began this week, with advisers saying flood response, property-tax proposals and education policies top the list of items that could affect local governments. "8,700-plus bills filed," Rodriguez told the council, and about 14% — roughly 1,200 bills — reached the governor this year. She said the governor convened a special session limited to 30 days and listed 18 topics on the call; the special session’s final day is Aug. 19.

Why it matters: several items on the governor’s call — including flood preparation and relief, tax relief and school-related measures — could change state funding priorities, regulatory responsibilities, or grant opportunities that affect Coppell’s budget and emergency planning. Rodriguez and Kroll emphasized that many measures filed for the special session will be handled as low-numbered “priority” bills, which typically move faster in committee and on the floor.

Rodriguez and Kroll gave council members several headline takeaways from the regular session: the state budget totals about $388 billion (all funds); the Legislature left the Economic Stabilization Fund (the “rainy day” fund) intact and it is projected to top about $28 billion by the end of the 2027 budget cycle; and Secretary of State Jane Nelson has drawn the ballot order for 17 proposed constitutional amendments that Texas voters will consider on Nov. 4. "That includes property-tax relief, a dementia research institute, bail reforms and other items," Rodriguez said.

On the special session, advisers said the lieutenant governor and speaker have reserved low bill numbers to signal priority items. Kroll told the council the Senate has already reserved Senate bills 1–3 for flood-related measures: "Senate Bill 1 is natural disaster preparation and recovery, Senate Bill 2 is flood emergency communications and warning, and Senate Bill 3 is relief funding for the Hill Country," he said. The House adjourned until Thursday and has scheduled redistricting hearings; at the time of the presentation no finalized flood bill text had been posted for committee hearings.

Advisers noted other priority items on the call, including property-tax measures such as Senate Bill 9 (a tax-cutting bill in the lieutenant governor’s package) and proposals tied to the governor’s stated goals like education savings accounts and teacher pay. Kroll said some previously vetoed measures have been refiled for the special session; he cited title-theft and deed-fraud legislation reassigned as Senate Bill 15.

Kroll also delivered a brief item he called "breaking news": State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione announced he will not seek reelection, a development advisers said may affect regional campaign dynamics and future legislative turnover. Rodriguez and Kroll cautioned that many bills filed during a special session do not need to match the governor’s call and may be subject to points of order if they advance, but filing allows members to show priorities to voters.

Council members asked how flooding will reshape the special session. Rodriguez said the joint committee on floods will meet, but at the time of the presentation the committee had no formal bill before it; advisers said the Senate planned hearings and rules debates to govern its redistricting process and that flood legislation in the Senate appears to be a near-term focus.

The presentation also covered turnover among statewide officials and potential 2026 candidacies — items advisers said could influence legislative priorities — and noted that the governor’s emergency-designated priorities (including property-tax relief and the education savings account) largely passed during the regular session. Rodriguez and Kroll said they will monitor committee activity and report back to the city as bill text and committee calendars develop.

Looking ahead, advisers told council members they expect more filings between the November and December filing window for primaries, and urged city staff and council to track reserved bill numbers and early committee actions for issues that could affect municipal operations.

No action was required of the council; the presentation was informational and staff indicated they will return with further updates as the special session unfolds.