Continuing its business after a tumultuous start to the special session with both legislative chambers at odds over how to deliver tax relief, the Texas Senate on Tuesday advanced several border bills tied to Gov. Greg Abbott's call to crack down on human smuggling.
And though the Senate Committee on Border Security approved legislation to curb and toughen punishment for human smuggling to a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence, the upper chamber again pushed through provisions to establish a state border police force and create a new penalty for illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border.
It remains to be seen how far the Senate's proposals will advance this special session as the House adjourned sine die last week, seemingly leaving the upper chamber in a "take it or leave it" position on special session bills that still require bicameral agreements on any legislative changes.