A Democratic state lawmaker who fled Texas in protest of a GOP redistricting effort is asking a court to let her exit the Capitol, after she was told she needs a police escort to leave the building.

"They said it's a felony for me to do this. Apparently I can't be on the floor or in the bathroom," Nicole Collier said.

After Democrats returned to the Texas statehouse, Republican leadership assigned law enforcement officers to monitor them to prevent further delays to their plan to redraw congressional voting districts to favor Republicans ahead of the election.

Parts of the Texas Capitol grounds were evacuated and closed to visitors on Tuesday evening after reports of an active shooter threat.The building itself was s

“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!”

The grounds were cleared after 7 p.m. as a demonstration was about to begin but lawmakers and staff members were allowed to remain inside the Capitol.