The state House has reconvened on Wednesday as GOP lawmakers in the Lone Star State look to push ahead with a newly redrawn congressional map designed for Republicans to pick up five U.S. House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. The plan, known as House Bill 4, could come to a vote on Wednesday in the House and as early as Thursday in the Senate.

AUSTIN, Texas - Four protesters were arrested after refusing to leave the Texas Capitol grounds Monday night. According to Texas DPS, on August 18, the Texas State Senate adjourned at 10 p.m. and all visitors were told the Texas Capitol building would be closing at 10:30 p.m.

The situation is an opportunity for the speaker to bolster his credibility with the right, but he has limited tools to combat a prolonged Democratic absence.

After two weeks fleeing the state, many Texas House Democrats returned, and a quorum was reached on Monday. More than two dozen Democrats still didn’t show up and civil arrest warrants remain in effect.

The gambit has triggered a national redistricting war, as governors from both major parties threaten to initiate similar efforts in other states.

Now that the Texas House has a quorum following Democrats’ two-week absence, lawmakers are back to debate a wide range of issues, including redrawing congressional maps to benefit Republicans.

Collier remained held in the lower legislative chamber on Monday after refusing to sign a slip that would have permitted a Department of Public Safety officer to shadow her around and outside of the Capitol—surveillance that House Speaker Dustin Burrows subjected Democrats who broke quorum to protest redistricting upon their return.

The new special session started with threats to House Democrats, who have signaled their intention to return to Texas after leaving the state to block the passage of a new GOP-friendly congressional map.

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