Some Texas Democrats to rip up agreements to leave House floor under police escort and return to chamber in protest
Source: CNN
Several Texas state House Democrats plan to rip up the written agreements that allowed them to leave the chamber with a police escort on Monday and return to the House floor Tuesday night, the caucus announced.
The lawmakers plan to spend the night on the House floor with state Rep. Nicole Collier, who has stayed in the House chamber for over 24 hours after declining to sign the permission slip to leave.
Without permission to leave, they will join Representative Nicole Collier on the House floor overnight ahead of tomorrows vote on Trump and Abbotts racist redistricting maps that threaten to divide Texas communities and strip representation from historically-united Texas neighborhoods, the announcement read.
House Republicans announced the requirement on Monday when Democrats, who faced civil arrest warrants for leaving the state during a special session, returned from their 15-day quorum break.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/politics/texas-democrats-protest?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc&recs_exp=up-next-article-end&tenant_id=related.en

bluestarone
(20,284 posts)ALL of them.
slightlv
(6,557 posts)Attilatheblond
(7,256 posts)DO NOT CAPITULATE! Let Abbot try to hold them captive. There are laws against unlawful restraining people. One might assume even Texas has laws.
Hieronymus Phact
(664 posts)Why would anyone ever sign one of these?
No wonder the party is perceived as weak.
rzemanfl
(30,793 posts)drive them around 24 hours a day.
WestMichRad
(2,609 posts)
were invalid.
FBaggins
(28,430 posts)As an example - many states allow you to sign a speeding ticket as a promise to show up in court (unless you want to plead guilty and just pay the ticket). Doing so is entirely voluntary... but you are signing "in lieu of arrest" - so if you don't sign they're going to take you to jail. You can't then sign but claim that it's invalid because you were under duress.
If the cop pulled a taser and said you had to sign that would be duress.
In this case they have the power to lock all of the recently-absent legislators up and hold them until the votes are completed. It's a ridiculous abuse of power, but it doesn't constitute duress to offer an alternative.
WestMichRad
(2,609 posts)for the explanations here and for buddyz. Appreciate you sharing your insights.
Buddyzbuddy
(1,455 posts)Sounds like Ghislane Maxwell has more freedom to come and go as she pleases.
FBaggins
(28,430 posts)Article 3 Section 10.
This was litigated just four years ago
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1452658/210667.pdf
Buddyzbuddy
(1,455 posts)I'm guessing there is a law firm in the US that can argue that point. Uphill battle, but a battle worth having IMHO.
FBaggins
(28,430 posts)Not when the federal constitution says exactly the same thing.