The Texas House of Representatives’ redistricting committee approved a revised version of a bill proposing new congressional maps on Monday evening. The approval followed consideration and modification of an initial proposal.
With the committee’s endorsement, the bill will now head to the full House for debate, pending scheduling by the House’s calendars committee. This progression suggests that the new mapping plan continues to advance in the legislative process.
Earlier on Monday, enough Democratic lawmakers returned to Austin to restore a quorum, ending a two-week impasse with Republicans over the congressional maps. This return potentially sets the stage for Republicans to implement changes that might increase their seats in the House by up to five in the next election cycle.
Subsequently, the revised bill, featuring the new congressional maps, was again assigned to the redistricting committee due to the kickoff of a new legislative session—an obligatory procedural step. No voting occurred, and the House adjourned until Wednesday.
Influential voices like President Donald Trump have been urging Texas Republicans to update their congressional district maps. In response, Governor Greg Abbott called a special session to focus on redistricting among other issues. On Monday, Trump reiterated his demand for the swift passage of the new maps.
“This is one of the most popular causes I’ve ever championed. Republicans are thrilled to see us fight for something so important. Please pass this Map, ASAP,” Trump expressed on his social media platform.
Burrows said that civil arrest warrants remain in force for Democratic members who prevented the House from reaching a quorum over the past few weeks.
In an aerial view, the State Capitol is seen on August 14, 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
“The House has been through a tumultuous two weeks, but this institution long predates us and will long outlast each of us,” Burrows said. “Representatives come and go, issues rise and fall, but this body has endured wars, economic depressions and quorum breaks dating back to the very first session. It will withstand this too, and what will remain is a chamber where the majority has the right to prevail, the minority has the right to be heard.”
State Rep. Nicole Collier, one of the Democratic members who had left the state to break quorum and prevent voting on the proposed maps, was stuck in the statehouse as of Monday night because she refused to agree to a law enforcement escort, according to a statement released by the Texas House Democratic Caucus.
Burrows laid out strict conditions for the members who broke quorum and returned.
On Monday morning, he said that the “call of the House,” meant to help secure a quorum by locking doors and compelling members to return, was still in effect. Burrows said that House members who had civil arrest warrants out for them for denying quorum would be allowed to leave the House only if they got written permission and agreed to be put into the custody of a law enforcement officer who would ensure they return on Wednesday.
Collier wrote in a statement that she had refused to agree to this condition and to be followed by law enforcement.
“I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts. My community is majority-minority, and they expect me to stand up for their representation,” Collier said.
Democrats say that they are going to build a “legal case against the discriminatory map”. The new maps are widely expected to be hit by lawsuits if they pass the legislature.
“We killed the corrupt special session, withstood unprecedented surveillance and intimidation, and rallied Democrats nationwide to join this existential fight for fair representation — reshaping the entire 2026 landscape,” Democratic Caucus chair state Rep. Gene Wu said in a statement. “We’re returning to Texas more dangerous to Republicans’ plans than when we left.”
At least one House Democrat, state Rep. Aicha Davis, said in a statement Monday she would not be one of the Democrats who would help restore a quorum.
“I made a commitment to my district that I would fight until the end to keep our representation intact and I’m staying true to my word,” Davis said in a statement.
Democratic state Rep. Erin Zwiener said at a news conference after the House adjourned that Democrats are tapping legal and voting rights experts, and from the floor, “We are going to build a record that helps the legal fight go forward; we will try to persuade our [GOP] colleagues to do the right thing, but quite frankly I’m disappointed in the level of moral courage I see from a lot of my colleagues. And we’re going to speak about the real impact of these districts.”
Asked if there was any chance Democrats leave the state again, Zwiener said that all options remain on the table and that she would not discuss strategy,
After the Texas state legislature began a second special legislative session on Friday and failed still to meet quorum, Republican legislators are expected to try for a quorum Monday and then to work to advance the new maps, which will have to once again pass through the House’s redistricting committee and procedural votes.
Separately, Democratic state legislators in California formally unveiled their proposed legislation to get new congressional maps on the ballot in November, saying that it will be a counter to Texas if it moves forward with its proposed new congressional maps. Lawmakers did not get into the specifics of the map or the nitty-gritty of the legislation, but said it would be a constitutional amendment that would include maps, as well as affirmation for the state’s independent redistricting commission and language that triggers new maps only if other states move forward with mid-decade redistricting.
But Republican legislators said the move, pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is not only overtly partisan but could threaten democracy in California. Speaking to reporters in the state Capitol, they said that the proposed legislation subverts the will of voters in California. They also said they were critical of Texas’ redrawing effort and wanted independent redistricting nationally.
“Governor Newsom, this is nothing more than a power grab. It’s a gamble, and we as Republicans here in Sacramento say we want non-partisan citizens redistricting for the whole country, and it is the role model that we have,” state Sen. Tony Strickland told reporters.
Democratic governors in Illinois and New York have also threatened to respond to Texas in kind and a bill in Maryland’s Democrat-controlled state House would force the state to change its map if another state proposed a new map mid-decade. Republican-controlled Florida and Missouri are also reportedly considering redistricting before the midterms.
The Trump administration has invited Indiana Republicans to the White House next week to hear from senior officials and Cabinet secretaries how they can partner with the administration to support Trump’s agenda, according to an invitation reviewed by ABC News. A source with knowledge of the event told ABC News that it’s expected that redistricting will be discussed as the White House ramps up pressure on Indiana state lawmakers to redraw congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterms.
Vice President JD Vance traveled to Indiana earlier this month to discuss redistricting with lawmakers at the state capitol.
ABC News’ Hannah Demissie contributed to this report.
