Texas Lawmaker Stages Overnight House Floor Protest to Reject “Permission Slip” Demands
AUSTIN, TX (August 19, 2025) — In a striking act of defiance, Democratic State Representative Nicole Collier (D-Fort Worth) remained on the floor of the Texas House through the night and into Tuesday, refusing to comply with a GOP-mandated “permission slip” that required Department of Public Safety (DPS) escorts for lawmakers leaving the chamber.
The Stand
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Following a 15-day walkout aimed at blocking a controversial redistricting plan, Speaker Dustin Burrows introduced a measure requiring returning Democrats to sign a form agreeing to be escorted by DPS officers when exiting the chamber. These “permission slips,” critics say, effectively strip legislators of autonomy. StatesmanChronReuters
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Rep. Collier refused to sign. She declared, “I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts.” StatesmanChronReuters
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As a result, she was effectively confined to the chamber—spending the night under a light blanket, live-streaming her protest, and refusing to budge until Wednesday’s planned reconvening. ChronReutersKEYE
Support and Solidarity
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Fellow Democrats, including Representatives Gene Wu and Vince Perez, joined her on the House floor for support, even bringing snacks and coffee. ChronReutersABC7 Los Angeles
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The Texas NAACP condemned the escort requirement as “extreme, unnecessary and reminiscent of Texas’ Jim Crow past.” Dallas News
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Online, Collier was applauded for her principled defiance. One X user wrote, “Thank you for not giving up the fight!!” while Beto O’Rourke called her “a true hero.” ChronThe Independent
Legal and Political Tensions
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Collier filed for a writ of habeas corpus, arguing her confinement under DPS instruction violated her rights. Local Democratic leaders indicated efforts are ongoing to revoke the escort order. KEYETIME
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Republican leaders, meanwhile, defended the escort measures as necessary to guarantee quorum and legislative momentum. ReutersTIME
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Under GOP redistricting proposals, Texas would gain five additional Republican-leaning congressional districts, sparking accusations of voter disenfranchisement — particularly targeting majority-minority communities like Collier’s. ReutersChronTIME
What’s Next
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Collier remains on the House floor and plans to stay until Wednesday’s session. The redistricting bill is expected to reach a full House vote at that point. ReutersKEYE
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The standoff highlights growing legal and political battles over representation, voting rights, and legislative procedure in Texas—and potentially sets the stage for national redistricting responses.
Summary at a Glance
| What Happened | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Collier refused to sign escort form and stayed overnight in the chamber. | It's a symbolic rejection of coercive governance and assertion of autonomy. |
| Protest broadcast live; allies and civil rights groups pushed back. | Demonstrates solidarity and public support for resisting procedural constraints. |
| Legal challenge filed; redistricting vote looming. | Collision of grassroots resistance and institutional power amid a high-stakes political battle. |
Rep. Collier's protest — powerful, symbolic, and legally charged — underscores the tension between political control and democratic representation in the Lone Star State.
Nicole Collier, Texas House protest, Texas Democrat news, GOP permission slip rule, Texas redistricting fight, Nicole Collier overnight protest, Nicole Collier Fort Worth, Texas House Democrats, DPS escort rule, Texas politics 2025------------
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