Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has expanded the current special session agenda to include legislation that would penalize lawmakers who intentionally leave the state to block legislative action.

The move follows a dramatic walkout by House Democrats earlier this month. They fled Texas in protest of a GOP-backed redistricting plan, effectively denying the chamber a quorum.

"We need to ensure that rogue lawmakers cannot hijack the important business of Texans during a legislative session by fleeing the state," Abbott said in a statement.

House passes controversial redistricting bill

On Wednesday, with the previously absent Democrats back in the chamber, the Texas House reached a quorum and gave final approval to House Bill 4 — a controversial Republican-backed measure to redraw the stat

See Full Page