Good morning,

Yesterday, we asked readers about Gov. Greg Abbott's proposal to remove quorum-busting legislators from office. You will find the results, and a sampling of the responses, below today's news.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, August 5, 2025

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Orders Arrest of Fleeing Democrats

• Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the arrest of Texas House Democrats who fled the state in an effort to block a Republican redistricting plan, calling their absence a “dereliction of duty.” Brandon Waltens has the story.
     
• On Monday afternoon, the Texas House officially failed to reach the 100-member quorum required to conduct business, with only 90 members present. Speaker Burrows condemned the quorum break. "They've shirked their responsibilities under the direction and pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who don't know the first thing about what's right for Texas."
      
• The members present quickly approved a “call of the House,” a procedural maneuver that authorizes the Speaker to compel absent lawmakers to return, including by civil arrest. Shortly after, Abbott "ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans."
      
• The governor also directed the Texas Rangers to investigate Democrats who fled the state for possible bribery violations. Lawmakers soliciting or accepting financial help to avoid fines or facilitate their absence could be prosecuted.
      
• Attorney General Ken Paxton also weighed in, releasing a statement calling the Democrats’ walkout a “cowardly desertion.” He warned that they must be “swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law.” 
      

• It is worth noting that during the 2021 quorum bust by Democrats, disgraced former House Speaker Dade Phelan waited nearly a month before signing arrest warrants for the missing members.

Texas Senate Moves Women’s Privacy Act Closer to Floor Vote

• Even though the Texas House could not conduct business yesterday, the Senate State Affairs Committee was able to do so. As Addie Hovland reports, the committee voted on the Women’s Privacy Act. The proposed law is designed to protect the privacy of women and girls when using public facilities.
     
• The measure prohibits an individual from entering a public area—such as restrooms and locker rooms—designated for members of the opposite biological sex. It would apply to all state agencies, school districts, prisons, public colleges, and women’s abuse shelters. Individuals violating the law could be subject to a $5,000 fine for the first offense and a $25,000 fine for any subsequent offenses.
       
• The proposal now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Texas Higher Ed Coordinating Board Seeks To Hide Abortion Research Records

• The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is attempting to conceal information related to an abortion research project presentation to its Education Research Advisory Board. Adam Cahn has the details.
     
• At its June 12 meeting, the advisory board heard a presentation from a professor at the Texas A&M School of Public Health. He said he was attempting to "support the development of policies that mitigate the impact of Dobbs on health and social well-being." Dobbs refers to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade.
      
• Texas Scorecard sought more information about that and other presentations, but the THECB refused and is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton to let them keep those records hidden from the public.
      
• The members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

Houston ISD Rolls Out Cell Phone Ban

• Houston Independent School District has unveiled a comprehensive cell phone policy prohibiting student use of personal devices during the entire school day. As Joseph Trimmer reports, the new policy aligns with a state law curbing electronic interruptions in public schools.
     
• The law reflects growing concerns over social media’s impact on youth mental health and classroom disruptions, as highlighted by U.S. surgeon general reports and state lawmakers. School districts have wide latitude in how they go about keeping devices from causing distractions in the classroom.
     
• Under Houston ISD’s guidelines, students must keep devices powered off and out of sight from campus arrival until dismissal, including during lunch and class transition periods.

OTHER EDUCATION NEWS

• Gonzalez is being held in the Montgomery County jail, with bail set at $33,000.

Quote-Unquote

"The politicians say 'we' can't afford a tax cut. Maybe we can't afford the politicians." – Steve Forbes​

Y'All Answered

Democrats have fled Texas in an attempt to block new congressional boundaries that would make Republicans competitive in five additional districts. Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday night that he will move to vacate the offices of any of the members who didn't show up for work.

Yesterday, we asked readers if they agreed with stripping quorum-busting Democrats of their offices. More than 95 percent of readers want to see quorum-busting Democrats removed from office, while 4.6 percent do not.

Here is a sampling of the responses I received.

• “I'm a Democrat, but yes... ANY party that leaves the state to disrupt the process of doing their business to ‘make a point’ should be fined more like $5,000 a day or be stripped of their office. It's an antiquated and childish way to do their job.” – LaNita Hobza
       
• “In the real world, try not showing up for work for 30 days and see how long it takes to get fired!” – Arthur McLean
       
• “Texas Democrats must use any method available to help assure that all Texans’ votes count. Abbott is a tool of Trump and he is not acting in Texans’ best interests. The redistricting scheme is outrageous and should be brought to a halt.” – Beverly Randolph 
       
• “YES...fire the democrats who fled the state to deny a quorum. Fine them, too. This kind of adolescent nonsense should not be tolerated.” – Charles Busbey
        
• “These Democrats should lose their office. They are voted in to take care of business, not run when it gets hard or they do not get their way.” – Lisa Stout
         
• “If they're not stripped of their offices, then they'll never learn the lesson. They're elected to the seat, their butts better be in it when the gavel hits the sounder.” – Chris Breaux
        
• “It is unbelievable to me that we’re even still having this conversation.” – Lynn Tannehill
         
• “I do not care whether they are Democrats or Republicans.  As a public servant you are required to do the business of the people.” – Jonathan Gardner
       
• “The quorum-busting democrats should be removed from their offices AND charged with a felony. Let them spend some time in jail to think about their actions.” – Elisabeth McEuen
         
• “If you walk out on your job for days or weeks with no reason other than, ‘I don't like what we are working on,’ you will most likely get your desk vacated. Politicians are public servants and should be held to the same standards as the general public.” – Larry Shaw II
         
• “Because nothing was done to Dems when they broke quorum last time, they feel emboldened to do it again, and they will continue until there is a stiff consequence.” – Bonnie Wallace
       
• “If I was hired to a job and I refused to do the work, I would expect to be fired. And not rehired.” – Michael Braden
      
• “Cut their pay, vacate their offices, fine them the maximum allowed by law. Go get them, drag them back in handcuffs if necessary, make them attend to the job they were elected to perform!” – Nina Kruzan

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