Texas House

Lawmakers adjourned in the early hours of Tuesday morning, securing changes to the state’s political maps and other conservative goals.

Before they’re even signed into law, the state’s new maps for congressional and statehouse districts have been challenged in federal court by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Before the second special session ended, lawmakers sent the GOP-backed bill for the governor's signature.

Texas Democrats argue their constituents' power would be diluted under current maps. They're asking a federal court to temporarily redraw maps for 2022.

House Democrats for weeks have denied the lower chamber the number of present members needed to pass legislation in a bid to block a voting restrictions bill. House Speaker Dade Phelan has already signed dozens of civil arrest warrants.

If the House Democrats who skipped town to block voting legislation don’t return before the special session ends, the Senate bills will languish without becoming law.

Republicans tried to shift political power in 2003. Now, they want to preserve it. This time, national Democrats have the power to do something.

San Antonio Congressman Joaquin Castro, as a state representative in 2003, participated in a similar quorum break to Oklahoma with more than four dozen Democrats at the time to stop redistricting bills. Nearly 20 years later, Castro will assist his legislative counterparts during their potentially weeks-long stay in D.C. and support federal voting legislation.

A majority of Democrats in the Texas House left for Washington, D.C., Monday afternoon in a bid to again deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass new voting restrictions with 26 days left in a special legislative session called largely for that purpose.

Texas lawmakers are back in Austin Thursday after wrapping up the 87th regular legislative session just over a month ago. Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session to work on what he considers unfinished business.