2021 was the second year of the pandemic. The Texas Legislature met in regular session, as usual, but then followed that session with three special sessions on issues that had to be done (redistricting) and on issues lawmakers didn’t address during that 140-day regular session. The issue of drawing new political maps came late, because the pandemic delayed the 2020 census. Others — new voting and election laws, and restrictions on what can be taught in public schools, for instance — were priority issues for Republicans at the legislative and at the statewide level, and could be the subject of debate in 2022’s election cycle.
Just weeks into 2021, a polar vortex swept across Texas, bringing freezing temperatures and snow, and — unexpectedly — triggering the failure of the state’s electric grid. Most Texas homes lost power and heat. Many lost water. Hundreds of people died. The blackouts lasted less than a week, but the repercussions still haven’t ended.
Lawmakers required electric plants to get ready for winter weather but gave natural gas companies — the biggest fuel suppliers to those generators — another year before they’re required to winterize. The state replaced many of the regulators after the blackouts and the governor, along with some of those regulators, promised no one will lose power in the winter ahead.
