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August 19, 2026
Texas Landowners Rally at Capitol, Urge Abbott To Call Special Session on Transmission Lines
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dozens of landowners from across Texas gathered at the Capitol Wednesday, urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session aimed at stopping proposed 765-kilovolt transmission lines that would cross private property throughout the state.
The rally coincided with a Texas House Committee on State Affairs hearing examining data centers and 765-kV transmission lines, where opponents of the projects planned to provide public testimony.
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The transmission line projects have faced months of opposition from landowners and advocacy groups.
As KXAN previously reported, Texas senators and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently called on the Public Utility Commission of Texas to delay action on certain transmission line applications while lawmakers review the issue further.
Landowners bring fight to the Capitol
Wearing yellow bandanas, landowners gathered outside the Capitol Wednesday morning.
“To the legislators inside all of these buildings, do not mistake ordinary people for powerless people,” said Mia Sarot with the Hill Country Land and Legacy Alliance at the rally.
Another speaker called for immediate action.
“We are here today not to beg, but to demand a special session,” said Sheila Hemphill, president of Texas Right to Know.
Supporters said they hope a special session would stop construction of proposed 765-kV transmission lines and give lawmakers another opportunity to review the projects.
‘Not what I was expecting for my retirement’
Carla Wills, whose property sits along the San Gabriel River, said one proposed transmission route would run along her property’s southern boundary.
Wills said the route would affect one of the most visible portions of her property.
“Our south border is the north fork of the San Gabriel River, and it’s about a 1,200-foot border,” Wills said. “And that’s the view I have every day, all day long. So it would run the entire 1,200 feet right across my property line.”
Last month, Wills testified before the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, where lawmakers heard more than 15 hours of testimony related to the transmission line proposals.
During that hearing, Wills encouraged opponents to continue pressing state leaders on the issue.
“Please go bang on Governor Abbott’s door tomorrow morning. He didn’t elect you. We did,” she said.
Opponents hope House hearing increases pressure
Hemphill said some lawmakers appeared surprised by aspects of the transmission line proposals discussed during the Senate hearing.
“You can hear the comments of the senators going on, ‘This isn’t what we were proposed. No one mentioned that there were going to be all these electric lines,’” Hemphill said.
While senators have called on the PUC to delay action on transmission line applications, landowners say time remains a concern as regulatory proceedings continue.
Under state law, the Public Utility Commission has 180 days from the initial filing to complete the transmission line approval process.
According to Sarot, landowners have exactly 30 days to intervene, followed by a legal process with the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which takes about 2 months, and is followed by a roughly 90 day review period.
Wills said she hopes Wednesday’s House hearing adds momentum to their efforts.
“I’m hoping we’ll get one more group on our side and that they will be compelled to really aggressively and relentlessly insist that the governor call a special session to address this problem,” Wills said.
Abbott, Hinojosa campaigns did not respond
KXAN reached out to Abbott’s office for comment on calls for a special session.
“What Governor Abbott is doing is working. The Governor established clear guidelines: Data centers must invest their own money, provide their own power, reuse their own water, ensure that the power grid is gaining power—not losing power because of their operations—and must not disturb neighborhoods. Data centers across the state have announced their full compliance with those standards, which provide guardrails that protect our communities. The Governor has been clear that high-voltage transmission lines need guardrails as well and a strong process for new transmission development is essential. He encourages the public to submit feedback on proposed lines to the PUC and the legislature.”
Andrew Mahaleris, Press Secretary for Gov. Abbott
If Abbott were to call a special session, state lawmakers would return to the Capitol, including Democratic gubernatorial candidate and State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, who is challenging Abbott in November.
KXAN also reached out to Hinojosa’s campaign but did not receive a response.
