After having fled the state over redistricting legislation, Democratic lawmakers had to agree to have security escorts to leave the chamber. Now, a number are refusing.

Republicans in the Texas House forced returning Democrats to around-the-clock surveillance by state Department of Public Safety officers to leave the floor.

The Texas House reached a quorum earlier Monday after Democrats returned to Austin ending a two-week standoff with Republicans over proposed congressional maps.

Texas Democrats end walkout as GOP-controlled legislature prepares to vote on redistricting maps that could flip five congressional seats to Republicans

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats ended a two-week walkout Monday that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts as part of a national partisan brawl over President Donald Trump’s desire to reshape U.S. House maps to his advantage.

"Voters decided to give redistricting powers to the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and take it away from politicians drawing their own districts. The gerrymandered maps are exactly why voters don't trust Sacramento politicians.

A Texas lawmaker confirmed she remained in her seat on the Texas House floor Monday morning after refusing to sign a GOP-mandated "permission slip" requiring Department of Public Safety escorts for Democrats who broke quorum over redistricting.

A walkout by Democratic legislators in Texas has ended, and Republicans are arranging to push a plan for redrawing the state’s congressional districts through the GOP-controlled Legislature.