Governor Greg Abbott convened a 30-day special legislative session on July 21, instructing lawmakers to redraw the state’s 38 U.S. House districts. The call follows a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) stating that four districts anchored in Houston and Fort Worth were “coalition districts,” and may have been drawn “along strict racial lines,” (a.k.a racial gerrymanders), potentially violating the 14th Amendment. Lawmakers now have until roughly mid-August to craft new boundaries that satisfy equal-population and federal law requirements.
Ongoing litigation over the 2021 maps
While legislators work on new boundaries, a three-judge federal panel in El Paso is still hearing consolidated lawsuits challenging the state’s 2021 congressional, state House, and state Senate plans. Plaintiffs, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the NAACP, and other civil-rights groups, argue that the maps dilute Latino and Black voting strength in violation of Section 2 and the Voting Rights Act. The cases were consolidated under LULAC v. Abbott. The trial opened on May 21, 2025, after nearly four years of pre-trial disputes over evidence and legislative privilege; a ruling is expected later this year. The current litigation had included a complaint filed by the DOJ (United States v. Texas) under the Biden administration, which asserts that “In enacting its 2021 Congressional and House plans, the State has again diluted the voting strength of minority Texans and continued its refusal to comply with the Voting Rights Act, . . .” After the change in presidential administrations, the Department filed a notice of voluntary dismissal and left the consolidated United States v. Texas litigation to the private and organizational plaintiffs. Any map the Legislature passes this summer will likely be scrutinized in the same courtroom.
Public-input schedule and alternative proposals
The House Select Committee on Redistricting began a seven-city hearing tour even though no draft map has been released. Early stops in Austin (July 24) and Houston (July 26) drew large crowds and repeated questions about taking testimony without district lines on the table. Chair Cody Vasut said additional hearings will follow once proposals appear. Senate leaders have indicated they will wait for a House product before launching their own hearings, so the timetable for a final vote depends on how quickly staff can translate public feedback into district shapes. Separately, Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) has filed HJR 26, a proposed constitutional amendment to create an independent citizens’ redistricting commission beginning with the 2030 cycle, though that measure is unlikely to advance during this summer’s compressed special session.
Next steps and deadlines
If the Legislature approves a new congressional map before the session ends, plaintiffs in the ongoing litigation have said they will move quickly to assess any replacement map for compliance with federal law. With candidate filing for the 2026 election cycle opening in November, Texas faces a narrow window to adopt, litigate, and, if needed, adjust new districts before campaigns begin.
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