Texas Authorizes Arrest of Absent Lawmakers to Restore Quorum

Dustin Burrows: "With 85 votes in favor and six against, the motion prevails. The sergeant-at-arms and any officer designated by her are authorized to seek out all absent members whose absence is not excused, in order to secure and maintain their presence under arrest if necessary, until further order of the House."

The vote took place in the Texas House of Representatives, in Austin, on August 4, 2025, during a special session. In that session, the House voted 85 in favor and 6 against to approve a motion authorizing the sergeant-at-arms and any officers he designates to locate and, if necessary, civilly arrest absent legislators whose absence has not been properly excused. The goal is to ensure their presence at the Capitol and restore the quorum needed to move forward with the Republican legislative agenda, particularly the approval of the new congressional redistricting plan.

Following the vote, House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that he would immediately sign the civil arrest warrants and coordinate with the Texas State Police to carry out the search for the legislators. More than 50 Democratic representatives had left the state in an attempt to break the quorum and prevent the passage of measures they claim undermine voting rights and promote partisan redistricting. Many of these legislators traveled to states such as Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts.

The conflict reflects a deep polarization in Texas state politics, where Republicans are seeking to use every available legislative mechanism to advance their agenda, while Democrats resort to abandoning the chamber as an irresponsible form of resistance. The vote and the arrest orders have sparked intense debate over the limits of legislative power, the legitimacy of strategic absences, and the independence of government branches in an increasingly politicized context.