The Texas Senate is holding the first public hearing of the special session to adopt new election maps.
The Select Committee on Redistricting is to meet Thursday morning to hear testimony on adopting redistricting maps drawn by a federal court.
Gov. Rick Perry called the special session earlier this week in a bid to end a two-year legal dispute over the state's political maps. Attorneys for the state believe that by adopting maps drawn by the federal court in San Antonio that should end the litigation.
Lawyers for minority groups suing for greater representation, though, insist that completely new maps are needed. Federal judges are considering the two arguments.
Thursday's hearings are the first step toward adopting the court's maps, and lawmakers will hear public testimony on the issue.
