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.

Gov. Greg Abbott has called a second special session for 19 agenda items as Texas' redistricting showdown rages on.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a second special legislative session would begin at noon Friday setting the stage for another redistricting fight like the one that snarled the first session.