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Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier is suing after she was locked in the Capitol for refusing to agree to Republican-mandated police surveillance.
On Tuesday (August 19), Collier filed a writ of habeas corpus in the district court of Travis County, alleging that she is being unlawfully detained inside the Texas Capitol by the Republican-controlled legislature, per HuffPost.
Collier is among dozens of Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas earlier this month to a block vote on a new congressional map. The redistricting effort, backed by President Donald Trump, could give Republicans an additional five House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
After returning to Texas on Monday (August 18), Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows demanded that each Democrat agree to a 24-hour police escort to ensure their attendance during redistricting votes. Collier refused to sign the "permission slip," which barred her from leaving the Capitol. She slept overnight on the House Floor.
“Representative Collier has been informed that she is not free to leave the Capitol,” Collier's lawsuit states. “Chairman of the Committee on House Administration Charlie Geren informed Representative Collier, ‘If you leave the Capitol, you are subject to arrest.’”
The lawsuit likened the move to unlawful confinement.
“Burrows does not have the power to compel any Texas citizen or any elected official into preemptive custody,” the suit reads.
While Texas law allows the House to compel attendance by absent members to achieve quorum, Collier argues that no such power exists over present members.
“The plain language is clear: a member may be compelled by the Sergeant-at-Arms to attend a legislative session if he or she is physically absent, but no such power is conferred on the Legislature to arrest or otherwise compel a member who is currently present (and not absent) to stay,” the filing states.
Collier has spent the past 24 hours inside the Capitol, mostly on the House floor, though she was told she may move to her office as long as she does not leave the building. The House is expected to reconvene on Wednesday (August 20).
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