Texas Republicans are moving closer to approving new congressional maps amid a Democratic show of protest over the GOP House speaker’s order that members who fled the state weeks earlier be placed under law enforcement watch.

The Texas House reached a quorum Monday after dozens of Democrats who left the state to block the vote on a GOP-favored congressional redistricting plan returned to Austin. The Democrats were asked to sign "permission slips" so they could be escorted by state troopers to ensure they would return when the session reconvenes Wednesday,

A state lawmaker has refused to leave the Texas Capitol as Republicans use police to prevent Democrats from fleeing the state over a redistricting vote.