A Texas lawmaker found herself effectively stuck in her seat Monday, planted on the House floor after refusing to sign a political "permission slip"-a GOP-mandated form requiring Department of Public Safety escorts for Democrats who broke quorum over redistricting.

AUSTIN, Texas — For the first time in two weeks, a quorum was met in the Texas House after many Democrats returned to Austin. That allowed the legislature to advance a bill to redraw maps that will likely affect Houston’s representation in Congress. Democratic leaders said they believe their quorum break was a success.

Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students.

Democratic lawmakers in Texas returned to the state on Monday, ending a two-week walkout that broke quorum and temporarily blocked Republican efforts to redraw congressional maps at the behest of U.S.

A federal judge last year blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for Texas state employees, ruling that its passage was unconstitutional because a majority of House members were not physically present to approve the law as part of spending package in December 2022.

Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier says she remains locked in the House chamber because she wouldn't sign a permission slip to be under escort by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

West Texas A&M University cannot bar an LGBTQ student group from hosting charity drag shows on its campus over the objections of the school's president, a divided federal appeals court ruled on Monday.