Day 1 of Texas special session starts with Democrats signaling they could flee over redistricting

AUSTIN, Texas (KTRK) -- There are nearly 20 items on a special session agenda, but day one focused on one issue that Texas Democrats said could force them to flee the state.

TEXAS LAWMAKERS RETURN TO AUSTIN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION

Just weeks after ending the regular session, Texas lawmakers are back in Austin. Texas Governor Greg Abbott made lawmakers return.

Rice University political science professor Mark Jones said a special session was a given after Abbott took action last month. "The moment the governor vetoed the THC bill, there was going to be a special session," Jones explained.

THC is on the agenda, but it's not the only one. There are 18 items.

Lawmakers have 30 days to tackle them.

ONE ISSUE DOMINATED THE DISCUSSION ON DAY ONE

Before lawmakers even started the special session, House Democrats held a news conference. The focus of it was to discuss redistricting.

"I'm disappointed that this is already becoming this partisan special session," State Rep. Christina Morales (D-Houston) said.

State leaders said they received a letter from the Department of Justice to review Congressional maps. ABC13 confirmed President Donald Trump told state GOP leaders he wants to see five seats flipped in the 2026 election.

In the Senate, much of the discussion was over redistricting. Democrats asked Republican leaders questions about why they're doing it.

Senator Borris Miles (D-Houston) told ABC13 he wasn't happy to see the item on the governor's call.

"I understand we need to get together to work on some flood issues," Miles explained. "I can accept that one. I can even kind of tolerate THC, but this redistricting issue, it's just disgusting to be here."

Senate Republicans said they plan to start redistricting hearings on Friday. The House schedule shows there will be redistricting committee meetings on Thursday, Saturday, and Monday.

DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO FLEE, WHILE SOME REPUBLICANS AREN'T BUYING IT

To combat redistricting legislation, Democrats said all options are on the table, including doing something they did four years ago. In 2021, Democrats fled to Washington D.C. during a special session over election integrity legislation.

It is a move Democrats in both the House and Senate said they're considering again. This time over redistricting.

"We need to break quorum so that Governor Abbott does not pass this Trump racially discriminatory map," State Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City) said.

If it comes down to it to save our voices and save our communities that I represent, everything's an option," Miles said.

Republicans aren't so sure it'll happen. After lawmakers fled four years ago, they created financial penalties for future quorum breaks.

"I think it's a complete bluff," State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Baytown) said. "They don't want to have to pay the fees if they do break quorum."

House rules state if lawmakers break quorum, they can't use political campaign funds to pay the penalties. However, Jones said the rules don't say they can't pay penalties with financial gifts given to lawmakers. If they do break quorum, Jones said he'd expect lawmakers to challenge the rule in court

NO WORD ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THC

The issue that political experts said sent lawmakers back to Austin wasn't discussed much on day one. There isn't even a committee hearing scheduled on it yet.

However, there are a lot of eyes waiting to see what happens to THC.

"That's a big boy fight," Miles said. "I'll be sitting back and watching it and eating popcorn and watching how it comes out."

Abbott vetoed a THC ban sent to him during the regular session. He wants lawmakers to send him legislation to regulate it.

The Texas Hemp Business Council said a hemp ban would impact $5.5 billion dollars across the state and could put more than 53,000 Texans out of work.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick pushed for the ban. Jones believes he'll send the governor legislation that puts strict rules on the industry.

"He is determined that if he can't slam that door shut, like he did during the regular session, he's going to make it as close to closed as he can," Jones explained.

So far, there's no hearing set on THC legislation. Lawmakers have until mid-August, when the special session ends.

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