'Eager to get back to work': State legislators ready to finish special session as Texas Democrats return

As the second special session is underway at the state Capitol in Austin, a number of the Democratic legislators who fled to Washington, D.C. last month have returned back to work.

Houston Daily reports that enough Democratic lawmakers have returned to the Texas Capitol to reach the quorum necessary to vote on legislation and House GOP members are eager to get work done.

FOX News reported that 99 legislators voted unanimously to resume business in the state’s lower chamber.

"The House convenes today, and I am eager to get back to work passing the governor’s priorities," Texas State Rep. Tom Oliverson wrote in an Aug. 23 Twitter post. "We are working to pass legislation on bail reform, election integrity, education and much-needed property tax relief."

During Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's first special session, at least 57 Democrats fled the state to Washington D.C. to deny the House the quorum necessary to hold votes, according to FOX News. They did so in order to block controversial election reform bills from being passed because they feel the bills would repress votes, especially from minorities. 

Several returning Texas House Democrats released a statement explaining their decision to return to the state.

"Our efforts were successful and served as the primary catalyst to push Congress to take action on federal voter protection legislation," their statement said, according to FOX News. "Now, we continue the fight on the House Floor."

Earlier this month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that arrest warrants could be issued by the Texas House for its absent members, according to The Hill. 

Although enough Texas Democrats have returned for the House to reach a quorum, the majority of the absent Democrats continue to remain outside the state.

"I will continue to stay in D.C. to encourage Congress to pass HR4 John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on next week," Rep. Ron Reynolds told FOX News. "The majority of our Democratic Caucus will not return to the House floor for the remainder of the Suppression Session."

The session, which Abbott had called to begin on Aug. 7, has 17 items on the agenda.