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Texas House orders sergeant-at-arms to fetch absent members, places chamber under call while HB4 is considered
Summary
During a special called session, the Texas House voted to place the chamber under a formal call, authorize the sergeant at arms to compel the attendance of absent members and pause business until consideration of House Bill 4. The motions passed by recorded votes and the speaker warned of fines and possible arrest warrants for absentees.
The Texas House during a second called session voted to place the chamber under a formal call and authorized the sergeant at arms to retrieve absent members while the House pauses other business until House Bill 4 is considered.
Mr. Speaker announced the moves after the House failed to reach a quorum and said the chamber would calculate fines and seek to compel absent members’ attendance under the House rules. "If you are located, you will be compelled to this chamber," Mr. Speaker said, adding that civil arrest warrants could be reissued and that absent members would be given a six-hour notice window to return.
The action followed an early roll call in which Mr. Speaker said "there being 97 members present, a quorum is not present." Representative Garen then moved "a call on…
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