While the Texas House remains paralyzed for a second straight day due to a Democratic quorum break, the Texas Senate is charging forward at full speed, conducting business, hearing testimony, and advancing major legislation — including its version of a new congressional redistricting map.
Despite the absence of several Democratic senators, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made clear on national television Tuesday night that the Senate is forging ahead.
“Here’s the truth: I still have a quorum in the Texas Senate,” Patrick said on Fox News. “And we will pass out the redistricting map next week. That’s our legal right, that’s what we’re going to do — because we are now in this fight, not just for Texas, but I think for taking the country back everywhere.”
The Senate’s continued operations come as the Texas House faces a standstill after dozens of Democratic members fled to blue states such as Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. The move is a deliberate attempt to block the lower chamber from voting on its redistricting legislation — which mirrors the Senate’s proposed map — and several other GOP-backed bills.
Senators Join the Protest — But Not Enough to Halt Business
Though not as dramatic as the House’s exodus, a number of Democratic senators joined the protest symbolically. On Wednesday morning, six Democratic senators appeared at a press conference in Boston to mark the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Among them were Sens. Molly Cook, Borris Miles, Nathan Johnson, Sarah Eckhardt, Carol Alvarado, and Cesar Blanco — all absent from Senate floor action that same day.
Despite these absences, the Senate met its quorum requirement of 20 members, allowing it to proceed with scheduled votes and hearings. The chamber currently has 30 members — one short of its full 31 due to a vacancy created when former Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) stepped down to accept a job at the state comptroller’s office. With 21 senators present on Wednesday, including at least one Democrat, the Senate maintained the numbers needed to conduct business.
Senate Advances Key Bills, Including Contentious Measures
Among the legislation passed Wednesday:
SB 7, sponsored by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), revives what’s commonly known as the “bathroom bill.” The measure mandates that bathrooms and locker rooms in public facilities be separated by biological sex, and imposes civil penalties for violations. The bill has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ rights groups and Democratic lawmakers who see it as discriminatory and regressive.
SB 9, authored by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), would lower the voter-approval threshold for property tax increases from 3.5% to 2.5%, a longtime Republican priority aimed at controlling local tax growth.
SB 15, introduced by Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas), deals with recording requirements for real property transactions — a rare piece of bipartisan legislation to advance amid the partisan standoff.
Redistricting Efforts Continue Despite House Boycott
The Senate also held a meeting of its Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Wednesday, taking up the same map that has been stalled in the House due to the quorum break. The hearing was limited to invited testimony only, drawing criticism from absent Democrats and voting rights advocates who argue that the redistricting process lacks transparency and public input.
The current map proposal is expected to solidify Republican control in most congressional districts, a fact that has fueled Democratic resistance and national attention.
Quorum Debate on the Senate Floor
Tensions briefly flared Wednesday morning over procedural questions about absences. Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) questioned Patrick on the Senate’s tradition of excusing members for “important business,” requesting that Sen. Nathan Johnson’s absence be formally excused.
“To your knowledge, has the Senate ever refused to excuse a requested excused absence?” Zaffirini asked.
“I’m not advised. I have only been here for 10 years,” Patrick responded.
Zaffirini, who has served in the Senate since 1987, replied pointedly: “I do not remember the Senate ever voting against a member’s request for an excused absence.”
The matter was ultimately referred to a vote, which requires support from five-ninths of present members — in this case, 12 of the 21 senators.
What's Next?
The current special session, called by Gov. Greg Abbott, is set to run through August 19. It includes a packed agenda of Republican priorities — redistricting, property tax reform, education-related proposals, and bills like SB 7.
While Senate Republicans appear determined to complete the session’s business with or without full Democratic participation, the House remains in limbo. The absence of a quorum there continues to delay final passage of any legislation.
