Texas lawmakers came a step closer to passing new safety standards for abortion clinics July 10 when the House gave final approval to the measure, sending it to the Senate on a vote of 96-49.

The vote in the second week of the 83rd Legislature's second special session signals that the Republican majority in the state Capitol is ready to push through the new regulations, which include requiring abortion clinics to adhere to the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers.

Gov. Rick Perry issued a statement praising the passage of the bill in the House.

"The tremendous outpouring of support for this legislation has demonstrated how Texas stands for life, and I commend everyone who wore blue, turned out and spoke up in support of life in our state," he said.

A statement posted on the website for Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said Texans will push back when the bill passes.

"As bad as this legislation is for Texas and Texas women, it's almost certain to pass. This is only the beginning. Texans don't like seeing women's health jeopardized or their rights limited or taken away," the statement said.

Second special session

The abortion issue is one of three that Perry told lawmakers to address when he convened the second special session July 1.

The first special session in June ended with an 11-hour filibuster of the abortion restrictions by Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, which galvanized the abortion-rights community and sparked massive protests at the Capitol.

At a cost of about $30,000 per day, a 30-day special session can cost taxpayers more than

$1 million.

Special sessions can only be called by the governor and cannot last longer than 30 days.

The other two bills under consideration during the second special session include transportation funding and a bill dealing with juvenile justice.

Transportation funding

Lawmakers are still haggling over how to fund highway projects after officials at the Texas Department of Transportation said they need $4 billion in additional funding to maintain the state's roads.

A proposal that appeared to be gaining traction was a measure asking voters to approve the diversion of some oil-and-gas proceeds to roads—monies that typically go directly into the state's Economic Stabilization Fund.

But in a House hearing July 9, some representatives expressed concern that it would either gut the rainy day fund or that parts of the bill that place a minimum on the fund's balance will eventually result in no money for roads at all.

Juvenile Justice

A measure that closes a loophole in the juvenile justice system is awaiting a Senate floor vote.

The bill allows 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder to be sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.

The legislation is in response to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that say teens cannot be sentenced to life without parole.