The Texas Home of Representatives gave ultimate passage on Wednesday to Home Invoice 4, a controversial Republican-backed proposal to redraw the state’s congressional maps and probably add as much as 5 new GOP-leaning districts.
Coming into Wednesday, the invoice wanted to cross two votes within the Home to advance to the Senate. Every vote handed 88-52.
Earlier than the ultimate vote, lawmakers debated a sequence of amendments provided by Democrats, all of which had been rejected by the Republican majority. The invoice was the only merchandise on the agenda for the day’s ground session, which started at 10 a.m.
“Huge WIN for the Nice State of Texas!!!” President Trump mentioned in a Fact Social publish late Wednesday night time. “All the things Handed, on our method to FIVE extra Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Nation, itself. Texas by no means lets us down. Florida, Indiana, and others wish to do the identical factor.”
Senate to think about Home-passed invoice
The Texas Senate, which authorized an analogous model of the redistricting laws earlier this week, is scheduled to take up the Home-passed invoice when it convenes this Thursday at 7 p.m.
If the Senate approves the Home model with out adjustments, the laws might be despatched to Gov. Greg Abbott by the tip of the week. If not, the 2 chambers might want to reconcile variations in a convention committee.
Invoice handed after Democrats broke quorum
The vote got here after a dramatic standoff earlier this month, when Democratic lawmakers fled the state to interrupt quorum and block motion on the redistricting invoice. Their absence stalled the Legislature and successfully ended the primary particular session, delaying the measure for 2 weeks.
Democrats return beneath tight restrictions
Gov. Greg Abbott known as a second particular session hours after the primary adjourned, and Democrats returned to the Home chamber on Monday, permitting the laws to maneuver ahead.
That night, HB 4 handed out of the Home redistricting committee on a 12-8 party-line vote.
To stop one other walkout, Home Speaker Dustin Burrows imposed a rule requiring Democratic members to be escorted by Division of Public Security officers in the event that they wished to go away the Capitol.
Whereas most Democrats complied, Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Value refused. She was quickly locked within the Home chamber and was later allowed to go to her Capitol workplace. On Monday, Collier filed a petition in state courtroom alleging she was beneath “unlawful restraint by the federal government.”
The courtroom has not but dominated on the matter.
Democrats protest escort rule in a single day
On Tuesday, a number of different Democrats joined Collier in protest, tearing up their signed escort agreements and spending the night time within the Capitol. With the passage of HB 4, Republican leaders dropped the escort requirement.
The redistricting plan is anticipated to provide Republicans a major benefit within the 2026 midterm elections, probably flipping as much as 5 congressional seats.
Abbott vows to signal redistricting invoice
In an announcement, the governor praised Home Republicans for passing a congressional redistricting invoice he says higher displays the desire of Texas voters. He criticized Democrats for leaving the state to dam the measure, calling their efforts futile.
Abbott mentioned he’ll signal the invoice as soon as it passes the Senate.
“Republicans stayed the course, stayed at work and stayed true to Texas,” Abbott mentioned.
Lawmakers react sharply to Home passage
Lawmakers from each events provided passionate and sharply divided responses after the Texas Home handed new redistricting maps. Democrats condemned the maps as racially discriminatory and vowed authorized motion, whereas Republicans defended them as truthful and reflective of latest voting traits.
“They’ve racist implications, sure,” mentioned Rep. Nicole Collier (D-Fort Value), who spent two nights sleeping within the Home chamber to keep away from being taken into custody by DPS earlier than the vote. “You want to have the ability to belief the voters to elect the candidate they need and preserve them collectively of their identical communities. That did not occur right this moment. At this time, they simply break up that up. So, it’s extremely disappointing to see that is the trajectory they are going.”
Rep. Katrina Pierson (R-Rockwall) pushed again on the criticism.
“It is victimization all day, day-after-day,” Pierson mentioned. “There isn’t any account for values, and that is what’s most vital. Folks of Texas have spoken within the final a number of cycles. Minority voters are turning Republican, and that’s how this map is drawn. It is completely authorized. In fact, they will take us to courtroom, however we are going to win.”
Rep. Venton Jones (D-Dallas) expressed deep frustration.
“My most honest response is disappointment,” Jones mentioned. “As soon as once more, Republicans proceed to make energy grabs on the again of Black and Brown communities. We fought for one of the vital points now we have as Texans, and that is our proper to vote. We’ll nonetheless proceed to combat. We’ll take this to the courts.”
Rep. Mitch Little (R-Lewisville) celebrated the result.
“Thrilled,” Little mentioned. “For the primary time, Republicans have united. They have been brave in bringing this to the ground. It was obligatory. Democrats are solely involved about these issues after they’re not in cost. In California, in Illinois, in Massachusetts, they completely redistrict and gerrymander to their profit.”
CBS Information Texas will proceed to supply updates because the redistricting debate unfolds.
