STATE SENATE APPROVES OPERATIONS BILLS

  

The Texas Senate has given preliminary approval of bills reauthorizing the Texas Medical Board and four other state agencies whose operations were jeopardized by similar measures stalling in May.

The move came, during the second day of the 30-day special legislative session.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who oversees the state Senate, let the usually routine bills die during the regular session, forcing Gov. Greg Abbott to call lawmakers back to work.

Abbott wants the Republican-controlled Legislature to tackle 20 issues during the special session, including conservative priorities like the "bathroom bill" targeting transgender Texans.

But work can't begin on anything else until the Senate passes the agency bills, and Patrick's chamber has rushed to approve them.