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Earlier this week, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows gave Democrats who fled the state until 1 p.m. on Friday to return to the state.
Most House Democrats did not return, continuing the standoff.
The lawmakers denied the House a quorum during the special legislative session, blocking a vote on the proposed congressional district redraw.
Burrows introduced new measures against the absent House Democrats, including having to collect their paychecks in person.
🚨 BREAKING: The Democrats did NOT return to Texas by today’s 1pm CT deadline
It’s time to REMOVE THEM FROM OFFICE!
The FBI is now assisting Texas in locating the absconded members, and are working with Sergeants at Arms in other states to arrest them.
Democrats will now NO… pic.twitter.com/mwPqPiKaho
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 8, 2025
Reuters has more:
Texas Republicans on Friday sought to increase the pressure on more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent a vote on a new congressional map, announcing that absent state House members can only collect paychecks by appearing in person.
Texas House of Representatives Speaker Dustin Burrows said electronic deposits had been canceled and members must now pick up payments at the capitol in Austin, effectively cutting off pay for Democrats who have left.
Democratic legislators have holed up in California, Illinois and New York in an effort to stop Republicans from enacting a new congressional map aimed at flipping five Democratic seats in the November 2026 midterm elections.
The Texas standoff has prompted Democratic governors to threaten to carry out their own redistricting, while Republican leaders in other states have said they may follow Texas’ lead.
“Burrows said he is working with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to make Texas civil arrest warrants for the absent Democrats enforceable in the state of Illinois, where some of the legislators are staying,” CNN noted.
Fox News provided additional coverage from the Texas House:
🚨 JUST IN: Texas House Speaker announces INCREASED punishments for Democrats who fled
➡️ Paychecks MUST be picked up in person (no more direct deposit)
➡️ 30% of Democrats’ office budgets cut
➡️ $500 fine per day
➡️ Must appear in person for any reimbursements
➡️ Banned from… pic.twitter.com/9vBMvhBYcB— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 8, 2025
CNN noted:
Burrows said that 30% of each absent member’s monthly operating budget “will be reserved and made unavailable for expenditure.”
He noted that he is now requiring absent members to appear in person in order to make certain requests, including requests for travel reimbursement, requests to change staff salaries and requests to approve newsletters.
He said that if members did not appear in person, newsletters and “the encumbered funds” would be cancelled.