The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting opened a video hearing on Saturday for the North Texas region and heard more than three dozen two‑minute public testimonies, most urging senators not to redraw congressional maps mid‑decade.

Senator King, chair of the Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting, opened the session by confirming a quorum and explaining the committee’s schedule and logistics for virtual testimony, noting that registration closed 12 hours before each hearing and that witnesses would be limited to two minutes. He told viewers the committee is conducting four regional hearings and that if the committee later considers a bill or proposed map those sessions would be held in person at the Capitol.

Why this matters: Witnesses repeatedly warned that a mid‑decade redrawing of congressional lines would dilute minority voters’ power and be used for partisan advantage. Many speakers also asked the committee to wait for court rulings on the 2021 maps and to show proposed maps before making changes.

Public testimony emphasized fairness and local impacts. Cecilia Fernandez, who identified herself as a retired senior citizen, said she came because she was “worried … for my children, my grandchildren, and everyone who calls Texas home,” adding, “Please do not draw lines that divide us. Draw lines that reflect us.” Sonia Olsen, a Richardson resident, said the compressed hearing schedule and short notice had limited public participation and framed the redistricting effort as being “under direct political pressure from Donald Trump.” Crystal Chisholm, president of the Coalition for Black Democrats in Dallas County, warned that “Texas has a documented history, court proven, that this is intentional discrimination against Black voters, against brown voters,” and said minority communities would organize in response.

Several witnesses recommended alternatives. Richard Howe urged a ballot referendum to establish an independent, nonpartisan commission for redistricting. Craig Naser, conservation chair of the state Sierra Club, said dividing communities also weakens environmental advocacy and local accountability. Ingrid Robinson, president and CEO of the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, told the committee that diluting minority votes threatens supplier diversity and local business advocacy.

Committee discussion: Senator Alvarado thanked witnesses and raised a staff action the committee had already taken — sending a formal invitation to a Department of Justice official who authored a recently circulated DOJ letter about the maps. The senator asked whether the committee had set a deadline for a response; King said he had not and that he expected a reply. King also told members he had researched the committee’s authority and reported that, during the information‑gathering stage of the special session, the committee cannot issue subpoenas; he said he would provide the specific rule text to members.

Logistics and public access: King reminded viewers that written comments could be submitted through the committee’s public input portal and that all hearings are livestreamed and archived on the Senate website. He said the committee had about 80 registered for the North Texas hearing but not all registrants signed in to testify; he encouraged those who still wished to appear to log into the Zoom waiting room.

No formal action was taken. The committee did not vote on any map, make appointments, or adopt motions during the session. King closed the hearing and said the committee would reconvene for other regional hearings, including an East Texas/Harris County hearing scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Monday and a West Texas hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

What the record shows: The hearing was an information‑gathering event. Testimony primarily opposed mid‑decade redistricting, cited the 2021 map litigation and a recent DOJ letter as reasons to be cautious, and asked the legislature to preserve communities of interest and minority opportunity districts. Several witnesses urged independent commissions or other reforms instead of mid‑decade redrawing. The committee discussed but did not adopt subpoenas, and it confirmed logistical rules for the virtual hearing format.

Looking ahead: The committee plans additional regional hearings and said written comments will remain open on the committee website. Senators and witnesses on the record said litigation over maps and a response from the DOJ may influence next steps, but no formal map proposals or votes were presented at Saturday’s hearing.