Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking legislation that would punish lawmakers who "willfully absent themselves" during a session of the state Legislature to block the passage of bills, announcing the proposal about an hour after the Texas House approved a new GOP-backed congressional map Wednesday night.

The legislation, which Abbott added to the agenda topics to be discussed during the current special session of the state Congress, is needed to "ensure that rogue lawmakers cannot hijack the important business of Texans during a legislative session by fleeing the state," Abbott said in a press release, according to the Texas Tribune.

House Democrats earlier this month left the state to prevent the passage of the redistricting bill, which was drafted by Republican leaders with input from President Donald Trump's advisers. If approved by the state Senate, the legislation would redraw key congressional districts in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and along the Rio Grande Valley.

The Democrats' move left the House without the quorum required to conduct official business. In response, Abbott and Republican leaders pursued legal and procedural measures to compel the Democrats' return, including civil arrest warrants and attempts to vacate seats.

Democrats who fled the state have already faced repercussions for breaking quorum. House Speaker Dustin Burrows levied $500-per-day fines on absent members and, upon their return, barred them from leaving the chamber without a police escort to guarantee their return for votes. Abbott also asked a court to remove House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu of Houston from office for his role in organizing the quorum break, though the court has not yet issued a ruling.

Most of the Democrat lawmakers returned on Monday, restoring quorum and allowing the chamber to resume work. With Republicans holding majorities in both chambers, Democrats have argued that breaking quorum is one of the few constitutional tools available to them to stall legislation they oppose.

Abbott on Wednesday also directed lawmakers to consider two other topics: making the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin available over the counter in Texas and authorizing a groundwater study of East Texas aquifers, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Ivermectin, typically used to treat parasitic worms, has been promoted in some Republican-led states as a treatment for COVID-19 despite a lack of scientific evidence that it is effective. The groundwater study comes amid pushback against a Dallas investor's plan to pump 10 billion gallons of groundwater a year from Anderson County and pipe it elsewhere in the state.

With those additions, Abbott has now designated 22 "emergency items" for the special session. The current session is set to end in just over three weeks, though Abbott retains the authority to add new topics or call lawmakers back for additional sessions.

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