Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas lawmakers have passed new state House political maps, satisfying the original reason Gov. Rick Perry called the Legislature into special session.
Perry called lawmakers into special session to make permanent voting maps drawn by three federal judges in San Antonio. Attorney General Greg Abbott said the move will stop a lawsuit to completely overhaul the state’s political districts.
The Senate gave final approval to the House map on Sunday.
With the voting maps out of the way, lawmakers can now focus on abortion, transportation and juvenile justice bills before the session ends Tuesday.
Opponents of a bill to place major new restrictions on abortion in Texas are expected to try to slow down passage of that bill and have called for demonstrations at the Capitol.