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HR 128

Amending the House Rules of Procedure to authorize additional constitutionally compliant, proportional penalties for members absent without leave for purpose of impeding the action of the House that do not unfairly impair members' representative functions.

89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Introduced by Daniel Alders and 61 co-sponsors

Texas House rule change allows proportional penalties for members deliberately absent to block legislative action, provided penalties don't impair representative functions.

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#legislature(i0520) #resolutions--rules(i0660)
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Bill Summary · HR 128

Legislative bill overview

HR 128 modifies the Texas House of Representatives' internal rules to establish new penalties for members who are absent without leave with the intent to prevent the House from conducting business. The bill specifies these penalties must be constitutional, proportional, and designed not to substantially interfere with members' ability to represent their constituents.

Why is this important

Quorum-breaking—where members deliberately absent themselves to block legislative action—has become a notable tactic in state legislatures. This rule change directly addresses that practice by giving the House authority to impose consequences beyond traditional methods, potentially affecting the chamber's ability to function when members strategically withhold participation.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional ambiguity: What constitutes intent "to impede" action versus legitimate absence for other reasons may be difficult to prove and could invite disputes about enforcement
  • Minority rights concern: Critics may argue that penalizing absences restricts the procedural tools available to legislative minorities to slow or block legislation they oppose
  • Enforcement questions: The bill doesn't specify what "proportional penalties" entails—leaving room for subjective application and potential fairness disputes depending on which party controls enforcement

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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