The Texas House signaled it would move quickly on redistricting and other legislative matters after reaching a quorum Monday afternoon following the return of Democrats who had fled the state in protest against GOP efforts to push through a new congressional map.
“No one here needs a reminder that the last few weeks have been contentious, but from this point forward, the rules of engagement are clear: Debate is welcome, but personal attacks and name calling will not be tolerated,” Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) told his colleagues.
“Let me also be clear about where we go from here,” he added. “We are done waiting. We have a quorum. Now is the time for action. We’ll move quickly, and the schedule [will] be demanding until our work is complete.”
Texas House Democrats returned to the state after boycotting an initial special session called by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R). Republicans had moved to quickly pass a new GOP-friendly House map that aims to give Republicans five pickup opportunities ahead of 2026.
Democrats had signaled they would return to the state after two conditions were met: Texas lawmakers adjourning their first special session Friday and California Democrats introducing their own House map that looks to offset expected gains from Texas’s new House map. Both of those happened last week.
“When Republicans tried to silence minority voters through racist gerrymandering, Texas House Democrats answered the call,” the Texas House Democrats said in a post on social platform X ahead of the Monday session.
“After rallying Americans to join this existential battle for democracy, we’re returning to Texas on our terms — ready to build the legal record needed to defeat these unconstitutional maps in court. The fight continues,” they added.
Monday’s session lasted just under half an hour, with a number of bills being read and referred to different committees, including legislation around the proposed GOP House map.
The congressional lines need to passed by each chamber’s respective redistricting committee before the map can be teed up for floor votes in the House and Senate. Once passed in the state Legislature, they will head to Abbott’s desk for his signature.
Burrows said the House would next meet on Wednesday, with lawmakers who did not thwart the chamber’s quorum being allowed to freely leave. Burrows said House Democrats would only be allowed to leave “after agreeing to be released into the custody of a designated DPS [Department of Public Safety] officer appointment under the rules of the House” who would ensure their return on Wednesday.
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