After fleeing Texas to protest Republicans’ redistricting efforts, Texas Democrats could accrue nearly $400,000 in fines that the state legislature threatened to enforce in retaliation for abandoning their duties.

Politico estimated that at least $382,500 in penalties will be racked up if Democratic lawmakers fail to return to the special legislative session, which ends on Aug. 19. Under Texas House rules approved in 2023, each lawmaker is subject to a daily fine worth $500 for missing official business. If they miss additional sessions called by Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) to pass the redrawn congressional map, those fines could total more than $3.2 million by the end of the year.