Governor Greg Abbott today sent a joint letter to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dade Phelan requesting the Texas legislative leaders convene special legislative committees following last week’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Abbott requested the committees be charged with examining and developing legislative recommendations on school safety, mental health, social media, police training, firearm safety, and more.
The full letter can be found here and the text can be found below
“Dear Governor Patrick and Speaker Phelan:
As Texans mourn the tragedy that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last week, we as a
State must reassess the twin issues of school safety and mass violence. As leaders, we must come
together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans.
Accordingly, I hereby request that each of you convene a special legislative committee. I request that
these committees review what steps previous legislatures have enacted, what resources the State has
made available to local school districts, and make recommendations to the Legislature and the
Executive Branch so that meaningful action can be made on, among other things, the following
topics to prevent future school shootings:
- School safety
- Mental health
- Social media
- Police training
- Firearm safety
It is important to begin the process immediately. In the meantime, the Texas Rangers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will continue to thoroughly investigate every aspect of this heinous crime, as
well as the response to it. The details of those investigations will be provided to you as soon as they
are available.
I look forward to working with you both on this important mission to make Texas safer, and I stand
ready to provide any and all support.”