Texas House Democrats 'rip the slip' in solidarity with state Rep. Nicole Collier

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas House Democrats are "ripping the slip" to show solidarity with state Rep. Nicole Collier ahead of Wednesday's vote on the controversial Texas congressional redistricting maps.

This comes after Rep. Nicole Collier refused to leave House Chambers Monday night for not signing a "permission slip" and agreeing to be shadowed by a DPS trooper.

Texas Rep. Nicole Collier refuses to leave House chambers

The backstory:

Texas Democrats came back to Austin after they broke quorum two weeks ago in protest of the state's redistricting plan. 

After Texas Democrats returned, House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced that the quorum-breaking legislators were not allowed to leave the chambers until they signed a document promising to be present when the House reconvenes on Wednesday morning. 

"Members who have not been present until today for whom arrest warrants were issued will be granted written permission to leave only after agreeing to be released into the custody of a designated DPS officer appointment," said Burrows.

The piece of paper resembles a tardy note or permission slip one receives in school. Additionally, each Democrat was assigned a Texas DPS Trooper to shadow them.

Collier refused to sign the document, instead opting to stay in the House chambers overnight.

"I refuse to sign," said State Rep. Collier. "I will not agree to be in DPS custody. I'm not a criminal. I am exercising my right to resist and oppose the decisions of our government. So this is my form of protest."

Former Vice President Kamala Harris called State Rep. Nicole Collier to share words of comfort. 

"When you're in those rooms, and it feels like you're the only one there, we are all in that room with you," said Kamala Harris.

The phone call came as Representative Collier, along with colleagues, had been live-streaming the "slumber party for democracy." 

"I'm literally locked in the chamber," said State Rep. Nicole Collier. "They said I can go to my office now or back to the floor; That's all I have authority to do, or I could be released into the custody of DPS." 

"Here in Austin, Sheryl Cole, who does have a police person that's containing her and not being able to let her be free to go about her day, threatened her today," said State Rep. John H. Bucy III . "They thought that she was walking too fast on her walk, and so they threatened that they'd have to detain her more. This is ridiculous behavior." 

"Donald Trump and Greg Abbott are trying to steal away the voice of Texans by gerrymandering five congressional seats and to just do it simply for power," said Representative Bucy. "They wrote the original maps, now they're trying to act like there's flaws with those."

"Rip the slip"

Eight Democrats publicly ripped up the "permission slips" they signed in order to leave the House Chamber following their two-week walkout over the maps.

"We are outraged by the constant surveillance that has been placed upon us," said State Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers. 

They then joined state Rep. Collier on the House floor overnight ahead of the vote Wednesday.

The 'rip the slip' demonstration was meant to be followed by another protest at the state capitol on Tuesday night. However, protesters and visitors were told to evacuate, and the Capitol grounds were closed off due to a shooting threat. 

Texas House Minority Leader Rep. Gene Wu issued the following statement on the threat:

"We are grateful for the Texas Department of Public Safety troopers whose swift and professional response to today's security threat ensured that all representatives, staff, and members of the public were safe. Violence and threats have no place in our democratic process, and we unequivocally condemn any threats against public servants or law enforcement, regardless of political differences. Rep. Collier's stand is rooted in the cherished American tradition of peaceful protest—a principle we will continue to uphold with unwavering conviction.

We encourage Texans who share our concerns to exercise their constitutional rights through peaceful advocacy, including contacting Governor Abbott and Speaker Burrows directly to call for Rep. Collier's immediate release from detention and an end to this discriminatory redistricting scheme. Our democracy thrives when citizens engage peacefully and passionately in the civic process, not through intimidation or violence."

Texas DPS is investigating the shooting threat. 

Filing in Travis County district court

Dig deeper:

Attorneys on behalf of Collier have filed an application for a writ of habeus corpus in the 459th District Court regarding her "illegal confinement."

The filing states that Collier "is under restraint by virtue of the Speaker of the House’s order placing her into the custody of law enforcement prior to the Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Session".

The filing also alleges that Collier was told by state Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), chairman of the Committee on House Administration, "If you leave the Capitol you are subject to arrest."

The filing's argument is that since Collier is currently present, the legislature and the Texas House Sergeant-at-Arms have no legal authority to detain her or other members who are physically present or when a quorum is not needed to conduct business. 

The filing asks the court to order Collier's immediate release and prohibit the Sergeant-at-Arms from restraining her "in any respect" unless she is physically absent from a current legislative session.

Redistricting fight

Dig deeper:

All of this was in response to Republican lawmakers' mid-decade decision to redraw the state's congressional districts. 

"When you look at California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, they've squeezed out all Republicans they can possibly squeeze out," said Governor Greg Abbott. "What Texas is doing, we're just drawing fair maps as allowed by law, and it will sure that at least five more members of Republicans will be serving in the United States Congress."

On Friday, the state of California released its new voter maps, which are expected to bolster the Democratic Party, with five additional seats in retaliation for Texas's mid-decade decision. 

"The fact of the matter is, they are incapable of achieving what he wants to achieve out there because it's going to require a constitutional amendment, and a poll came out showing that two-thirds of his own state residents are against what Gavin Newsom is proposing," said Governor Abbott.

However, Texas, on the other hand, does not face any of these same hurdles. 

"The U.S. Supreme Court, as we've already talked in many, many hours, Rucho, says that jurisdiction may engage in constitutional political gerrymandering," said State Representative Todd Hunter.

What's next:

The Texas House is adjourned until 10 a.m. August 20.

Its calendar has House Bill 4, which is the redistricting map, as the only item on the calendar for Wednesday, August 20.

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