In special session, Texas Senate passes bill to keep key agencies running

Texas Senate passes bill to keep agencies running

AUSTIN, Texas — In special session, the Texas Senate has passed a bill to keep key state agencies running — a matter shoved aside during partisan bickering in the regular session.

The bill the Senate quickly passed after convening Wednesday morning extends the Department of Transportation, the Department of Insurance and three smaller agencies until Sept. 1, 2011. The House is expected to pass the bill as early as Thursday.

Those agencies were supposed to be part of Texas’ normal renew and review process during the regular session that ended June 1. But debates over a voter identification bill and a standoff on transportation funding stalled bills pending before the session closed.