Session Ends with Votes on Punishment
for Quorum Breakers and Flood Package
Capitol Inside
September 4, 2025
Tempers flared in the west wing of the Capitol in Austin on Wednesday before the Texas House called it quits on the summer's second special session after the Republicans voted to punish members who break quorum in the future while a THC ban and tax relief measure died in standoffs with the Senate.
The House adjourned sine die shortly before 11:30 p.m.
after final votes on a youth camp safety bill and a $280 million disaster relief proposal that both stemmed from the flooding on the Guadalupe River on July 4th. The Senate ended the special session shortly after midnight after voting on Wednesday for the flood-related package and concurring in House amendments to the state's first bathroom bill.
But the most excitement on the special session's final night came with a fight on a punishment plan in House Resolution 174 for representatives who miss two days or more without absences that are excused in a coordinated attempt to deny a quorum as way to protest or to kill a bill.
Sponsored by GOP State Rep. Cody Vasut of Angleton, HR 174 prescribed rules changes that would penalize future quorum-breakers with the loss of committee chairmanships and vice chairs, seniority and office outlays for time missed along with steeper financial fines. The resolution was based on recommendations from the Republican Caucus in the lower chamber.
The debate on the Vasut proposal ignited an angry exchange of insults and allegations between freshman Democratic State Rep. Vince Perez of El Paso and veteran Republican State Rep. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington. Tinderholt, who's giving his seat in the House so he can run instead for county commissioner next year, accused Perez of stealing from taxpayers with per diem payments while out of Austin breaking quorum.
The House approved HR 174 on a vote of 80-28 while 42 members who were mostly Democrats were recorded as absent.
more to come ...
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