The Senate panel also passed two bills that sway away from Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda.
A bill to stop the smuggling of migrants who enter Texas and that creates a minimum decade-long prison sentence for smugglers drew support from a Senate panel Tuesday.
Their endorsement fulfills Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for a special session he called hours after the regular session ended last month. The proposal, written by Sen. Pete Flores, R-Lakeway, establishes a “mandatory minimum” prison sentence of 10 years. Prison time can decrease to five years if the suspect cooperates with officials for human smuggling.