Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session beginning July 21 to address several pressing issues, including flood relief, redistricting and the regulation of THC products. Lawmakers will also revisit unfinished business from the regular session such as proposals to eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test and ban taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Rice experts are available to discuss these special legislative session topics.
Flood warning systems and emergency communications
Philip Bedient, Herman and George R. Brown Professor of Civil Engineering and director of Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center
Bedient is a leading expert on flooding caused by tropical depressions, hurricanes and severe storms. He can speak to the impact of urban development on flood risk and offer insight into protection strategies tailored for the region.
He is also the creator of the Flood Information and Response System (FIRST), an integrated platform that forecasts flood levels from heavy rainfall to provide critical lead time for emergency response. For more than two decades, this flood warning system has monitored the Brays Bayou Watershed to help safeguard the Texas Medical Center and is now in use for the city of Houston.
STAAR test
Christal Burnett Sánchez, director of Rice Education at the Glasscock School for Continuing Studies
Sánchez can speak to the shortcomings of the STAAR test as well as other possible assessment opportunities. With nearly two decades of experience working in the field of education as a bilingual teacher and university faculty, Sánchez’s research interests include improving family and community collaboration with schools and increasing educational equity and opportunities for marginalized populations.
THC and hemp regulation
Katharine Neill Harris, Alfred C. Glassell III Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
Harris analyzes the impacts of local, state and national drug laws. Her current research focuses on cannabis regulation and overdose mitigation strategies. She’s available to speak on THC, hemp and illicit drugs.
Redistricting and taxpayer-funded lobbying
Paul Brace, Clarence L. Carter Professor Emeritus of Political Science
Brace is a nationally recognized expert on state-level politics, judicial decision-making and intergovernmental relations. He can speak to the legal and political implications of redistricting and taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas, particularly in the context of legislative power, partisan strategy and public accountability. His research has appeared in leading political science journals, and he has been widely cited in media coverage of state and national politics.
Joyce Beebe, fellow in public finance at the Baker Institute
Beebe’s research focuses on tax reforms in the U.S. and computable general equilibrium
modeling of the effects of tax reforms. Her other research interests include wealth accumulation over a person’s lifetime and how public policies influence decision-making. She is able to speak on taxpayer-funded lobbying.
To schedule an interview with any of the experts, contact media relations specialists Alex Becker at alex.becker@rice.edu, Avery Ruxer Franklin at averyrf@rice.edu or Andrew Bell at andrew.bell@rice.edu.