In the Texas legislature, the first special session ended abruptly Friday after Democrats in the House refused to come back and allow a vote on redrawn congressional maps.

Sunday afternoon, State Senators launched a public hearing on a bill to redraw congressional voting districts in Texas. The hearing, comes two days after Governor Greg Abbott called a second special session of the Texas Legislature.

The Texas Legislature began a new special legislative session Friday after Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to deal with congressional redistricting and a host of other issues — laying down a new gauntlet for Democrats who fled the state nearly two weeks ago to halt a vote on a new district map.

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a second special session for 19 agenda items as Texas' redistricting showdown rages on.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a second special legislative session would begin at noon Friday setting the stage for another redistricting fight like the one that snarled the first session.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special session Friday after gaveling out the first 30-day session, hamstrung by fleeing Democrats who left the state.

Texas Democrats who oppose a controversial Republican-led redistricting plan appear to be shifting strategy from walkout to holding protest rallies.