The Texas House will reconvene at 10 a.m. Wednesday with House Bill 4, a proposal to redraw congressional maps, as the sole agenda item. The Republican majority moved rapidly after Democrats broke quorum and left the state for two weeks, halting the first special session. Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special session and the absent Democrats returned; HB 4 later cleared the House redistricting committee by a 12-8, party-line vote. The bill still requires two full-House votes and faces the full Senate soon. Some Democrats protested required DPS escorts, with a few tearing up agreements and staying overnight; Rep. Nicole Collier filed a court request alleging illegal restraint.
The Texas House of Representatives will gavel back into session at 10 a.m. Wednesday with the controversial proposal to redraw congressional maps up for a vote. Currently House Bill 4, the redistricting legislation, is the only item on the lawmakers' agenda. The Republican majority has worked quickly to push the measure through the House, after Democrats broke quorum and left the state for two weeks, stalling all action in the house and killing the first special session.
In an attempt to ensure that Democrats do not try to break quorum again, Republican House leaders would only allow the members who left the state to exit the House chamber if they agreed to a DPS escort. While most Democrats agreed, state Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth refused. She was locked in the House chamber for a time and eventually also allowed to go to her Capitol office. On Monday, Collier asked a state court to allow her to leave, alleging she's facing "illegal restraint by the government." The court has not yet acted on the filing.
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