Austin, TX, September 4, 2025
News Summary
In a significant move, Texas Republicans have passed measures to deter quorum breaks during special sessions. House Bill 18 prohibits absent lawmakers from accepting campaign donations exceeding $221 and imposes hefty fines for violations. The changes follow increased scrutiny over absenteeism, especially after Democrats previously leveraged quorum breaks to halt legislative proceedings. The new rules, which include loss of seniority and potential removal from leadership roles for violators, aim to curb absentee tactics and promote accountability among lawmakers.
Austin, Texas – In a decisive move to discourage future quorum breaks during special sessions, Texas Republicans have passed new measures aimed at imposing stricter penalties on lawmakers who are absent when their presence is required. House Bill 18 received an 18-8 party-line vote in the Texas Senate and has been sent to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for consideration.
Authored by Representative Matt Shaheen, the bill specifically prohibits absent lawmakers from accepting campaign contributions that exceed $221, the same amount as the per diem allocated to legislators during sessions. Additionally, changes to the House’s permanent rules were approved with a vote of 80-28, increasing daily fines for quorum violators and empowering the House speaker to strip any member breaking quorum of their committee leadership roles.
The new modifications to the House rules include a substantial penalty for absentees: a reduction of two years in legislative seniority for each day a member is absent. Advocates for these changes argue they aim to prevent lawmakers from benefiting financially through unexcused absences.
In light of the increased scrutiny over absenteeism, it is noteworthy that Democrats have previously utilized quorum breaks effectively to halt legislative activity in the House. With the recent measures, the Republican majority appears to be taking a hard stance against such strategies. Lawmakers who recently broke quorum could potentially face fines nearing $660 per day, which is three times the daily per diem amount.
The ongoing tensions between Republican and Democratic legislators were evident during the debate over these reforms. Representative Gene Wu has argued that the measures are a direct response by Republicans due to previous quorum breaks executed by Democrats. Since 2021, Democrats have broken quorum twice, prompting significant backlash and calls for action from Republican leaders, including Governor Abbott, who indicated intentions to pursue disciplinary measures against lawmakers who abandon legislative duties.
The Texas Supreme Court previously ruled in 2021 that quorum-breaking is permissible under the state constitution, which enabled Democrats to use this tactic as a form of protest against legislation they opposed. However, experts suggest that the effectiveness of quorum-breaking as a strategy may diminish moving forward, potentially changing the dynamics of future legislative sessions.
In addition to the newly approved measures, over $9,000 is owed to the state by individuals who recently broke quorum. Recent actions have even led Senator John Cornyn to seek FBI assistance in locating the absent lawmakers, though it remains uncertain what specific actions the FBI may undertake related to these requests.
Amid these developments, the successful passage of redistricting efforts in Texas could provide Republicans with an enhanced advantage as they aim for future electoral success. The political fallout from the recent quorum-breaking actions has resulted in significant partisan discord, leaving both parties grappling with the implications of their strategies.
Background and Context
The legislative climate in Texas remains tense as the recently imposed measures reflect a growing frustration among Republican lawmakers regarding the tactics employed by Democrats in previous sessions. As the political landscape evolves, it is crucial to monitor how these changes will impact the functioning and collegiality within the Texas Legislature.
Key Features of the New Measures
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| House Bill 18 | Limits campaign contributions for absent lawmakers to $221. |
| Increased Daily Fines | Fines could be up to $660 for future quorum breaks. |
| Reduction of Seniority | Two years of seniority lost for each day absent. |
| Stripping of Leadership Roles | The House speaker can remove committee chairs for quorum violations. |
FAQ Section
What is a quorum break?
A quorum break occurs when a sufficient number of legislators are absent to prevent the government body from conducting business.
What penalties are established for quorum breaking?
New measures include fines of up to $660 per day and reduction of legislative seniority by two years for each day absent.
Why did the Texas Legislature implement these measures?
These measures were implemented in response to previous quorum breaks by Democratic lawmakers that halted legislative actions.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Texas House Faces Continued Quorum Crisis Amid Political Standoff
Texas House Fails to Establish Quorum Amid Redistricting Crisis
House Democrats Challenge GOP Gerrymandering in Texas
Additional Resources
- Dallas News
- Wikipedia: Quorum
- KVUE
- Google Search: Texas quorum breaking
- The Hill
- Google Scholar: Texas quorum breaks
- Politico
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas quorum
- NBC News
- Google News: Texas Democrats quorum break
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
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