Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) gaveled in the start of lawmakers’ second special session Friday afternoon, saying he expected there to be enough lawmakers present to conduct business on Monday.
“I have been told, and I expect that we will reestablish quorum on Monday. Although I have not seen any public statements directly from those who are not here, that seems to be what people have the expectation of,” Burrows said, referring to the minimum number of lawmakers needed present in order to conduct business.
Burrows said legislation would be immediately referred and hearings would take place next week if lawmakers did achieve a quorum. He said his goal was for lawmakers to be able to adjourn their second special session before Labor Day weekend.
The Texas House speaker also noted while lawmakers who had been present during session would be allowed to go home to their families over the weekend, Texas Democrats would be compelled to come back to the state Capitol if they returned over the weekend.
“If that happens, I will ask those members who’ve gone home for the weekend to return immediately. You will be given a six-hour notice window to return, so do not travel beyond that,” Burrows advised.
Texas lawmakers in both chambers gaveled out their first special session earlier Friday before Gov. Greg Abbott (R) quickly called for a second special session.
Republicans have been looking to pass a number of agenda items, including a new set of congressional maps that would give Republicans five more pickup opportunities in the House next year.
Democratic state lawmakers fled the state in response as a way to stall Republicans from being able to pass their new House map. That meant Texas Republicans could not meet the threshold of a quorum to pass new bills.
But on Thursday, Democrats signaled they were opening the door to returning home if two conditions were met — if Republicans adjourned their first special session and if California introduced a set of new congressional lines that would effectively neutralize the gains Texas Republicans expect to make with their own House map.
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