After two weeks fleeing the state, many Texas House Democrats returned, and a quorum was reached on Monday. More than two dozen Democrats still didn’t show up and civil arrest warrants remain in effect.

Civil arrest warrants remain in place for lawmakers who remain out of state, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said.

The situation is an opportunity for the speaker to bolster his credibility with the right, but he has limited tools to combat a prolonged Democratic absence.

State Rep. Nicole Collier said she would not fall in line with the GOP House speaker's requirement that Democratic lawmakers be surveilled by state troopers.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is warning that any absent lawmakers found this weekend will be arrested and brought back to Austin for the start of the seco

The new special session started Friday with threats to House Democrats, who have signaled their intention to return to Texas after leaving the state to block the passage of a new GOP-friendly congressional map.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) gaveled in the start of lawmakers’ second special session Friday afternoon, saying he expected there to be enough lawmakers present to conduct business on Monday.

Burrows worked as an attorney before he was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2014, taking the seat from current Republican Senator Charles Perry of Lubbock.

North Texas will benefit if Republicans in Austin finally play hardball like Democrats and advance the Trump agenda. | Opinion