The Texas Legislature began a new special legislative session Friday after Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to deal with congressional redistricting and a host of other issues — laying down a new gauntlet for Democrats who fled the state nearly two weeks ago to halt a vote on a new district map.

House Speaker said he expected the missing members to return by Monday to resume work on redistricting, THC rules and flood responses.

Abbott called a second special session after the House again failed to reach a quorum amid a Democratic walkout over a GOP-favored redistricting plan.