With the first special session winding down and the Texas House still without a quorum, ABC13 in Houston is reporting that House Democrats may soon return to Austin.
The outlet says multiple sources confirmed Democrats plan to come back to the state, though the exact date remains unclear. According to the report, Democrats believe they’ve “accomplished their mission” by stalling the first special session and drawing national attention to Republicans’ mid-decade congressional redistricting effort.
While the exact timing of their return remains uncertain, sources have indicated it could happen as soon as this weekend.
The Texas House Democrat Caucus issued the following statement Tuesday evening:
Members are still assessing their strategies going forward and are in a private meeting to make decisions about future plans currently. If and when Texas House Democrats breaking quorum decide to go home is squarely dependent on the actions the Governor, Speaker, and Texas Republicans in charge make with regard to prioritizing flood victims over redistricting that hurts Texans.
With only 95 members present, the House once again fell short of the 100 needed for a quorum on Tuesday. Speaker Dustin Burrows has said that if there’s still no quorum Friday, the House and Senate will adjourn, and Gov. Greg Abbott will immediately call lawmakers back for another 30-day special session.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed all of the items on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda—including the new congressional map—on Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said they will do so in perpetuity until House Democrats return.
The fight over the quorum break has increasingly spilled into the courts. In recent weeks, Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have pursued legal actions seeking to have the seats of absent Democrats declared vacant.
At the same time, House Speaker Dustin Burrows has signed dozens of civil arrest warrants for absent members, directing the Department of Public Safety to knock on doors, stake out homes, and follow up on tips in an effort to compel their return.
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