Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows gavels in the session in the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images)
Burrows said at the start of the second special session on Friday that he expected to reach a quorum on Monday, with the likely return of the fleeing Democrats.
Burrows added that any Texas Democrats who return over the weekend will be arrested and brought back to the Capitol immediately. "Civil arrest warrants will be reissued. If you are located, you will be compelled to this chamber," he said.
"Those who are here today, you have earned the weekend at home with your families, but those who have refused to make quorum. I'm sure you're missing home. Do not think you have permission to return to Texas and enjoy a peaceful weekend before finally showing up to work," Burrows said. "DPS will remain active and civil arrest warrants will be reissued. If you are located, you will be compelled to this chamber. If that happens, I will ask those members who've gone home for the weekend to return immediately."
As some AWOL Democrats are reportedly planning to return in time for a second special legislative session to begin next week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott told Fox News Digital that the state is looking into whether they violated laws against bribery by taking money to break quorum. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images and Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The action in Austin comes one day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats unveiled their playbook to counter the push by President Donald Trump and Republicans to enact rare - but not unheard of - mid-decade congressional redistricting.
The fast-paced moves in Austin are the latest in the high-stakes national battle between Republicans and Democrats over congressional redistricting ahead of next year's midterm elections.
