In the midst of a discussion on the controversial Senate Bill 1 voting rights bill, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan attempted to ban use of the word "racism" in the chamber. The House Speaker began the session by asking lawmakers in the room to behave.

"Members, this is a reminder to everyone to be civil and respectful of our colleagues as we debate S.B. 1. The chair would appreciate members not using the word 'racism' this afternoon," Phelan said during discussion of the bill according to Newsweek. 

State Rep. Erin Zwiener was among the Democrats who immediately responded with backlash.

"Wow. The Speaker just asked us to not use the word 'racism' during debate today. SB 1 will harm the freedom to vote for all Texans, but it will disproportionately impact people of color. That's racist, no matter how you dress it up. Period," Zwiener wrote on Twitter.

In a follow-up tweet, Zwiener said "Coddling R legislators who are uncomfortable about how this bill hurts people of color is not our job."

"One Republican has already filed an amendment to put the 'Souls to the Polls' provision that would limit black churches voting on Sunday morning back in the bill. It’s racist," Zwiener wrote. 

Julián Castro, former mayor of San Antonio, also condemned Phelan's absurd request.

"Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan thinks it's uncivil to talk about racism," Castro tweeted. "What's uncivil is pretending it doesn't exist."

Fellow Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa received applause from members in the room after challenging the attempt to ban the word.

"Intentional discrimination against people of a certain race. Is that racism?" Hinojosa asked.

Phelan continued to try to explain himself. 

"We can talk about racial impacts with this legislation without accusing members of this body of being racist," he said, according to ABC 13. "While we may have strong disagreements on the legislation and policy that will be debated, our rules require that we conduct ourselves in a civil manner and treat our colleagues with respect." 

Thursday's meeting commenced after several Democrats, who left Texas in July to break quorum, returned to the state to continue discussion on the voting rights bill, The Hill reported. 

The proposal aims to ban drive-thru and overnight voting options. Republicans also want to increase restrictions on mail-in voting and add criminal penalties for voting law violations while enhancing access for partisan poll watchers.

After advancing the bill on Thursday night, lawmakers prepared for a final vote on Friday. The Texas Democrats organization describes S.B. 1 as "a racist, anti-democracy bill that will cement Texas’ ranking as the hardest state in the country to vote in." 

"Shortly before midnight, Texas House Republicans overwhelmingly voted along party lines 79-37 to pass one of the most restrictive voting bills not seen since the Jim Crow era," the group said on its website. "The anti-voter bill,  S.B. 1 will receive one more vote in the Texas House today and then move to the Senate, where it is expected to pass as soon as today." 

Dade PhelanS.B. 1Voting rights