TFN and Texas For All led rallies during the floor debate. Texas Freedom Network’s political director, Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her), spoke during a rally. Fierro-Pérez’s remarks can be found here, and a video can be found here.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2025
CONTACT: Emily Witt (she/her), [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House today passed proposed redistricting legislation, House Bill 4, which would redraw Texas’ congressional voting maps and shift five congressional seats to likely favor Republican candidates.
Previously introduced during the first special session, the controversial legislation has garnered national attention, with critics stating the maps unfairly “gerrymander” Texas voting districts. In response, Texas House Democrats chose to break quorum during the first special session.
For the second special session, which began on Friday, August 15, enough Texas House Democrats returned to restore a quorum in the House.
Texas for All, a coalition of progressive advocacy organizations, held rallies throughout the day and packed the Capitol with Texans who oppose mid-decade redistricting. Texas Freedom Network’s political director, Rocío Fierro-Pérez (she/her), spoke during a rally. Fierro-Pérez’s remarks can be found here, and a video can be found here.
Texas Freedom Network Executive Director Felicia Martin (she/her/ella) issued the following response:
“The passage of these racist voting maps proves what we have always known: Our people-powered movement has endless strength, and Texas Republicans know that when we fight, we win. They’re so terrified of our power that they’ve abandoned Texans devastated by the July floods, wasted taxpayer dollars going after true leaders who broke quorum, and even held a Black representative hostage because she refused to sign their little permission slip and be put under police surveillance. Our state’s extremist leaders would rather let Trump take over Texas than do anything to serve the people.
“In their crusade to feebly hold onto the power they know will soon slip away, Texas Republicans have awoken a movement that cannot be silenced. No racist gerrymandering scheme can ever stop the growing, fierce movement for change that’s begun. People are rising up across our state and nation, refusing to allow our democracy to quietly become a dictatorship. In the face of authoritarian rule, we are building our power. We will fight. We will win. It is our only option. No map gets to decide our future. We do.”
Upon re-entering the Texas House Chambers, Democrats who broke quorum were asked to sign “permission slips” consenting to a DPS (Department of Public Safety) escort to ensure they return to the House by 10 AM on Wednesday, August 20.
Representative Nicole Collier refused to consent to the DPS escort and was blocked from leaving the Texas House Chamber for over 48 hours.
House Bill 4 is now eligible to go to the Texas Senate Committee on Redistricting for a hearing. If the Senate committee advances it, it will then go to the full Texas Senate for a floor debate. If both chambers pass the same version, Governor Greg Abbott will then either approve or veto it.
