Tensions are growing high between lawmakers at the Colorado State Capitol during a special legislative session.

State lawmakers are on their second day of the special legislative session. Senators are already passing bills out of their chamber, as the House continues its first day of debate on measures on Friday evening.

State lawmakers are meeting to address a nearly $800 million budget shortfall. Most other states weren’t hit so hard or as quickly as Colorado by the trickle-down effects of the federal tax

The Capitol grounds were cleared after 7 p.m. as a demonstration against a GOP redistricting plan was about to begin. Texas lawmakers and staff members were allowed to remain inside the Capitol.

The Texas redistricting battle is entering a new front as the fight turns to the courts, where Democrats and civil rights groups are expected to challenge the newly passed maps. Texas House Democrats who had fled the state to stall the maps said that they were returning “to the House floor and to the courthouse” this

State Sen. Carol Alvarado of Houston said she planned to hold the floor as long as possible ahead of a final vote.