A Republican lawmaker says Democratic colleagues are playing the “victim card” after being required to sign hall passes in order to leave the Texas House floor.

State Rep. Shelley Luther posted to X on August 18 that Democrats who returned from a two-week quorum break were issued written slips granting permission to exit the chamber under the custody of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Luther described the practice as proof Democrats had “already wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars with their little 14 day field trip” and called for new GOP-friendly maps, writing, “Time to redistrict the Texas House seats.”

Her post included an image of Rep. Gene Wu’s pass, which stated that he was allowed to leave only “in the custody of a designated officer of the Department of Pullic Safety appointed under Rule 5, Section 8, House Rules or Procedure, on the condition that the representative will return… at 10 am. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.”

 

The escort arrangement comes as lawmakers battle over Republican efforts to redraw congressional boundaries. The GOP plan, approved by a House committee Monday night, would create at least five new Republican-leaning districts. Republicans have said the changes are necessary to reflect population growth, while Democrats argue the proposal dilutes minority voting power.

Notably, three of the five districts targeted by Republicans would see an increase in the voting power of Hispanic populations.

Some Republicans have suggested the plan does not go far enough. State Rep. Brian Harrison told The Dallas Express the addition of five GOP-leaning districts should be the floor for negotiations and urged colleagues to consider even more.

Democrats who fled the state earlier this month had sought to block that outcome. Their return triggered new procedural rules meant to guarantee their attendance in the chamber. Democratic Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth told CBS News Texas she refused to sign the escort form on Monday and was effectively locked inside the Capitol. “I have a right to resist, I have a right to oppose, just like my voters do,” Collier said.

The Texas House Democratic Caucus called the escort system the “latest Republican tactic to monitor and control Democratic lawmakers following their successful quorum break.”

House Speaker Dade Phelan has suspended direct deposits for absent members, and civil arrest warrants were authorized to compel Democrats back to Austin. Gov. Greg Abbott launched an effort to remove Wu, the Democrat Caucus Chair, from office, while Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit to declare vacant the seats of those who continue to resist.