Politics

Abbott calls for new penalties for absent lawmakers

More than 50 House Democrats left Texas earlier this month in an effort to deny a quorum.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) speaks during a roundtable discussion with President Donald Trump, first responders and local officials at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, during a tour to observe flood damage, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has asked the state legislature to impose new penalties on lawmakers who are absent for extended periods of time, days after Democratic legislators broke quorum to delay a Republican-led effort to redraw the state’s political boundaries.

In a letter to legislators, Abbott expanded the scope of the agenda for the ongoing special session to include new penalties or punishments for lawmakers who are willfully absent during a legislative session.

Stay informed
Subscribe to keep reading.

Sign up today to get the latest state new at your fingertips and in your inbox.