Texas Senate adopts SR 5 to create congressional redistricting committee amid protests over mid‑decade plan

The Texas Senate on July 21 adopted Senate Resolution 5, establishing a Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting and procedures for regional hearings and floor amendment packets, after suspending Senate rule 8.02 to take up the measure immediately.

Senator Cedric King, the sponsor of SR 5, moved to suspend the rule and said, “All we're doing here today is trying to pass a resolution, to allow the lieutenant governor to set up the committee and then some rules for that committee to operate under.” The motion to suspend the rule passed 19–11, and final adoption of SR 5 was the same margin.

The resolution narrows the committee’s jurisdiction to congressional redistricting, authorizes regional hearings with video‑conference testimony, requires public posting (48 hours for regional hearings and bill hearings) and asks that floor amendment packets include maps and legislative council reports. King told colleagues the procedures mirror those used in 2021 and 2023 and said the intent was to “equip us for success in adopting lawful maps through a fair and transparent process.”

Democrats and some Republicans pressed for more time, more hearings and in‑person options. Senator Carol Alvarado proposed an amendment requiring five regional hearings on any congressional map under committee consideration; Senator Sarah Eckhardt offered a version calling for 12 regional hearings; Senator Royce Miles sought longer…