MRT 8/8/25 (free): TX House Fails to Reach Quorum Fri // Paxton to TX Supreme Court: Expel 13 AWOL House Dems // Harris County Commissioners Block Hidalgo’s Tax Increase Proposal

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

FRIDAY | 8/8/205

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• TOP NEWS  

“Texas House fails to reach quorum as Democratic walkout hits sixth day,” Austin American-Statesman's Isaac Yu -- "The Texas House failed to reach quorum on Friday, six days after House Democrats fled the state to deny GOP redistricting. House Speaker Dustin Burrows had set a 1p.m. deadline for members to return under threat of sanctions.

Only 95 of 150 legislators appeared on the floor and registered as present as the chamber gaveled in, five short of the 100 needed to conduct business. Texas Republicans need a quorum to pass new congressional maps that would send more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Burrows said state law enforcement would work through the weekend to return absent Democrats, and he detailed new penalties for them, including requiring them to show up in person to receive pay and cutting off 30 percent of their office's operating budgets. The chamber is now scheduled to return on Monday for another chance of meeting quorum.

"We have all hands on deck," the speaker said. "We are continuing to explore all avenues to compel a quorum, and will keep pressing forward until the job is done."

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Addressing the absent members, Burrows said: "Each one of you knows that eventually you will come back and we will pass the priorities of the special session on the call. But with each passing day, the political cost of your absence is rising, and it will be paid in full."

The action caps a week of stalled productivity after more than 51 Democrats sought refuge in Illinois, New York and Massachusetts. Others appeared to have remained in Texas, but as of Friday were not taken into custody under the civil arrest warrants issued by Burrows on Monday.

Republicans have escalated their threats in recent days. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday the F.B.I. is working to help locate absent members, while Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit attempting to force Illinois authorities to return Democrats, the majority of whom are currently gathered in Chicago

The Texas Department of Public Safety was said to be searching for members still in Texas. State Rep. Claudia Ordaz of El Paso said on social media she has been out of the chamber due to a personal health matter, and that DPS officers had appeared at a family member's residence in search of her. Her statement did not specify whether she is still in the state.

“Harassing my family, spreading lies, and dragging my name into political games is beyond unacceptable,” Ordaz said in the post. “It is a deliberate abuse of power and an intimidation tactic.”

With their 88-member caucus, House Republicans need 12 Democrats present to resume work. As of Friday, nine Democrats have now registered as present at least once, with Mary Gonzalez of El Paso the latest to return. Other members in Texas were Terry Canales of Edinburg, Philip Cortez of San Antonio, Oscar Longoria and Sergio Muñoz of Mission, Armando Martinez of Weslaco, Eddie Morales of Eagle Pass, Joe Moody of El Paso, and Richard Raymond of Laredo.

That places the number of Democrats who have not registered as present even once at 53: a tight margin, since the party needs 51 members absent to break quorum. Of those Democrats, most have been sighted in Illinois or other states at press conferences or public events with blue-state governors.

If enough Democrats are brought back to the House before Monday, Burrows said he would call the members into session.

“DPS is in the field to execute these warrants,” Burrows said. “Should they lead to the civil arrest of our absent colleagues over the weekend, your are on call. You will need to be available to return to Austin with a minimum of six hours of notice.”" AAS ($)

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• TOP NEWS  

“Ken Paxton asks Texas Supreme Court to expel 13 House Democrats over redistricting standoff” Texas Tribune

“'Yellowstone' creator selects small Texas town for next spinoff series 'Rio Palo'” SAEN ($)

• #TXLEGE  

“Judge blocks Beto O’Rourke from financially supporting Texas Democrats who left the state” Texas Tribune

“Texas Senate panel advances bill swapping STAAR exam for three shorter tests” Texas Tribune

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“Chaos erupts at Commissioners Court as Lina Hidalgo's proposed tax hike fails to pass” Hou Chron ($)

“Heider Garcia resigns as Dallas County elections chief” Texas Tribune

• 2026  

“Rep. James Talarico mulls U.S. Senate bid as his profile rises amid Texas Democrats’ redistricting standoff” Texas Tribune

“John Cornyn enters critical window to change trajectory of Texas Senate primary against Ken Paxton” Texas Tribune

“Rep. James Talarico mulls U.S. Senate bid as his profile rises amid Texas Democrats’ redistricting standoff” Texas Tribune

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“Semiconductor plant eyes Fort Worth for $230M investment” DMN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> HOU CHRON: "‘Wow’ is right. Lina Hidalgo undermines her own push for childcare. | Editorial" HOU CHRON

> DMN: "5 things to know about Texas’ redistricting fight amid House Democrats’ quorum break" DMN

> MY RGV: "BCIC adopts new strategic plan: Focus on quality of life, public health, economic mobility" MY RGV

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Texas Senate to vote on proposed congressional redraw ‘next week’" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> TX TRIB: "Texas Democrats know they may lose redistricting protest, but hope to spark a national fight" TX TRIB

> MY RGV: "Local state reps join Democrats who broke quorum, while some stay behind" MY RGV

> KXAN: "Texas Democrats face removal threats, FBI involvement as quorum break enters fourth day" KXAN

> HOU CHRON: "Lina Hidalgo censured by Harris County commissioners" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "Harris County spent $900K on Lina Hidalgo's security detail, more than all commissioners combined" HOU CHRON

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Schertz city council considers property tax rate increase to address streets, sidewalks" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Austin to revamp local hate crime response amid yearslong rise in bias incidents" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> MY RGV: "Alzheimer’s continues to cripple Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. State leaders still aren’t doing enough." MY RGV

> SAEN: "Mayor wants to pause Project Marvel plans — but City Council majority resists" SAEN

> KXAN: "Feds withdraw funds for I-35 cap and stitch, city updates status of other grants" KXAN

> SA REPORT: "‘You didn’t hear a no’: Spurs, city will keep negotiating on downtown arena, despite calls to pause" SA REPORT

> HOU CHRON: "I'm the head of St. John's School: How can students return to class in the shadow of loss? | Opinion" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "Fire breaks out in $107M TWU building under construction on Denton campus" FWST

> DMN: "Soldier in Texas arrested for allegedly sending defense information to Russia" DMN

> FWST: "11-year-old killed by stray bullet as she slept, GA officials say. Man convicted" FWST

• EXTRA POINTS 

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Houston 5, New York (Y) 3 (10)
> WNBA: New York 88, Dallas 77
> MLB: Philadelphia 9. Texas 1

This weekend's Texas sports schedule:
Sat
> 1:05pm: MLB: Houston at New York (Y)
> 6:15pm: MLB: Philadelphia at Texas
> 7:30pm: MLS: Houston at Austin (Apple TV)
> 7:30pm: MLS: Portland at Dallas (Apple TV)
Sun
> 12:35pm: MLB: Houston at New York (Y)
> 1:35pm: MLB: Philadelphia at Texas
> 3pm: WNBA: Washington at Dallas

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Correa hits go-ahead single off Williams in 10th as Astros outlast Yankees 5-3" AP

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros OF Jake Meyers resumes running and baseball activities in rehab from calf injury" Hou Chron ($)

TEXAS RANGERS: "Schwarber hits 41st homer and Marsh goes deep among 4 hits as Phillies beat Rangers 9-1" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Texas Rangers still struggling vs. elite pitching, but reinforcements are on the way" DMN ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys put guard Rob Jones on injured reserve, sign RB Malik Davis to add depth" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: "What we learned from Cowboys training camp on Friday: Rookie RB Phil Mafah ready to rumble" DMN ($)

TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: "Texas A&M observations: Marcel Reed's growth as a passer, an emerging tight end and a speedy receiver" Hou Chron ($)

DALLAS WINGS: "Ionescu scores 16 as the Liberty beat the Wings 88-77 for their 3rd straight win" AP