Special session speculation spreads in state capital

Speculation over a special legislative session is spreading in Austin.

The Texas Tribune reported House Speaker Joe Straus wrote a letter to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick explaining two key bills needed to be passed to avoid a special session. The most important one, Senate Bill 1, the budget.

The Senate and the House are roughly $600 million apart in their budget proposals, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Now both chambers have to agree on how to finance the budget, and where the money will come from.

The House proposes using the state’s rainy day saving account while the Senate wants to employ an accounting tactic to cover $2.5 billion in each chamber’s budget.

Thus far, neither can agree on the other’s plan.

The Senate and House will keep hashing out budget issues behind closed doors. It’s expected both groups of lawmakers will come to an agreement, and avoid a special session.