AUSTIN, Texas _ With the sound of protesters roaring in the background, the Texas Legislature ended its regular session Monday with ceremony and speeches, a near fistfight on the House floor and a lingering sense of tension as Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged that he will announce his decision about a special session later this week.
Shouting against the law targeting "sanctuary" immigration policies, protesters disrupted House business until troopers could clear the House gallery.
A scuffle broke out on the House floor as GOP state Rep. Matt Rinaldi of Irving tussled with several Democrats, who later said Rinaldi told them he had called immigration officials on the protesters.
During the heated exchange, Rinaldi said, the Democrats pushed and shoved him and threatened his life.
Democratic state Rep. Philip Cortez of San Antonio, however, said he heard Rinaldi threaten to put a bullet in the head of another Democrat, state Rep. Poncho Nevarez of Eagle Pass.
Adding to the day's tensions was a looming special session that Democrats and some House members believed was manufactured by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and his Republican supporters in the Senate.
"I'll be making an announcement later this week on a special session," Abbott said. "When it gets to a special session, the time and topics are solely up to the governor."
Abbott did not address what topics he was considering, but he did acknowledge that the Legislature failed to approve "sunset" bills needed to keep five state agencies operating, including the Texas Medical Board, which licenses the state's physicians.
House members said the Senate avoided multiple opportunities to renew the agencies, but Patrick blamed the House _ and Speaker Joe Straus in particular _ for dropping the ball by failing to pass the required legislation in a timely manner.
Patrick has been pushing for a special session to include two of his priorities that were squelched by the House _ a law limiting transgender-friendly bathroom policies in the state's schools, universities and government buildings, and a law requiring automatic elections if a city or county tries to raise property taxes above a certain percent.
Asked by reporters how much pressure he was feeling from Patrick to include bathrooms and property taxes in a special session, Abbott answered, "None."
Patrick indicated that he expected to be called back to the Capitol shortly.
"I would normally say see you in 18 months, God willing, but we'll see you a little sooner than that," he told the Senate before officially ending the 85th regular session of the Legislature.
