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.

Democratic lawmakers, who fled the state on Aug. 3 to block a controversial redistricting effort, said Thursday they’re prepared to “bring this battle back to Texas,” after seeing encouraging signs t...

Abbott said that redistricting plans, legislation to increase flash flood safety in the wake of deadly July flooding, and other legislative work remains undone because Democrats had refused to show u...