Texas Republicans mandated that Democratic lawmakers not be allowed to leave the state house without a permission slip and a police escort.

A Democratic state lawmaker who fled Texas in protest of a GOP redistricting effort is asking a court to let her exit the Capitol, after she was told she needs a police escort to leave the building.

A Texas Democratic state lawmaker abruptly left a call with Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin and other top party leaders on Wednesday after she was warned she was committing a felony.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday kicked off a heated debate over a new congressional map creating five new potential GOP seats that is expected to pass the chamber later in the day as part of a growing national redistricting battle.

Democratic state Representative Nicole Collier spent the night in the Texas Capitol building rather than agree to a police monitor that is part of a contentious partisan struggle over redrawing voting districts to keep the national House of Representatives in Republican hands.

Shortly after, a protest formed inside the Capitol with chants in support of Collier, including four women sitting outside the doors of the chamber Monday night surrounded by dozens of Texas DPS officers. An officer told them, "If you do not leave, you're subject to arrest for trespassing," and then they were handcuffed and taken into custody.

Texas Republicans insisted that Democrats have around-the-clock police escorts to ensure they wouldn’t leave again.