The standoff began on Monday, when Democratic members returned to the Capitol after being out of the state for more than two weeks due to a controversial redistricting map. Rep. Collier refused to agree to leave the chamber under the surveillance of the Department of Public Safety.

Texas Republicans insisted that Democrats have around-the-clock police escorts to ensure they wouldn’t leave again.

The mother of the only camper missing from Camp Mystic shared a heartfelt tribute while speaking to the Texas Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding at the Texas Capitol

"Way to go Rep Collier!" Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat, said in a post on X. "Don't sign the slip! This is why we need to keep Voting Rights Act! Making someone sign a permission slip is way too antebellum!!! This is ridiculous! And, it's so natural for them (GOP) to behave this way! It's systemic in their every day actions!"

On Wednesday, McCown joined other Camp Mystic parents, some wearing buttons memorializing “Heaven’s 27,” in demanding that Texas lawmakers pass a bill that would boost camp safety, including generally keeping cabins out of flood plains, instituting new requirements for emergency plans and mandating weather radios.

Shortly after, a protest formed inside the Capitol with chants in support of Collier, including four women sitting outside the doors of the chamber Monday night surrounded by dozens of Texas DPS officers. An officer told them, "If you do not leave, you're subject to arrest for trespassing," and then they were handcuffed and taken into custody.

Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night on the Texas House floor in protest after refusing a Republican demand to be placed under the watch of the state Department of Public Safety.