Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas bishops support criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners

Bills: HB1511, HB1831, HB1988, HB2147, HB2234

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, state regulations, zoning, local government authority, drug court, juvenile justice, diversion programs, rehabilitation, criminal justice reform, remote proceedings, depositions, virtual hearings, court technology, criminal responsibility, age of maturity, expungement, mental health services, juvenile record sealing, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• This is how we shift from symbolic reform to tangible transformation.
• here in the state. ...legislature and appreciate the value of us being able to pass laws to help reform

Bills: HB1511, HB1831, HB1988, HB2147, HB2234

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, state regulations, zoning, local government authority, drug court, juvenile justice, diversion programs, rehabilitation, criminal justice reform, remote proceedings, depositions, virtual hearings, court technology, criminal responsibility, age of maturity, expungement, mental health services, juvenile record sealing, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• Two important remaining elements of enacting bail reform in Texas: Senate Bill 3073 and Senate Joint
• As you know, back in 2019, When we started making some of the jail reforms, we began gathering more data

Bills: SB3073, SJR87

Keywords: Texas criminal procedure, magistrate, probable cause, written findings, arrest review, criminal justice, Article 15.17, pretrial release, judicial recordkeeping, court transparency, law enforcement, defendant rights, criminal proceedings, no probable cause, magistrate findings, bail reform, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, public safety, 1185

Transcript Highlights:

• While the legislature provided raises for correctional officers last session to help ensure hiring outpaces
• The Youth Parole Reform Act is simple; it tells the parole board to stop using adult standards to judge
• I'm here today to support the Youth Parole Reform Act, HB 5500.

Bills: HB1967, HB3442, HB5525, HB5561, HB5653, HB5667, SB1171

Keywords: juvenile justice, correctional facilities, reform, rehabilitation, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, alcohol awareness, court-ordered programs, substance misuse education, deferred disposition, youth, parole reform, inmates under 18, mental health, educational achievement, reintegration, foster youth, behavior intervention, community services, diversion policies, HB 5653

Bills: SB1288, SB1705, SB1878, SB2019, SB2118

Keywords: emergency management, federal funding, disaster relief, cost sharing, public assistance, bail reform, public funds, nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, injunctive relief, criminal procedure, surety bond, judicial discretion, uniform bond schedule, liability insurance, judgments, insurance fund, Oklahoma, county sheriff, commissary

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard several bills related to local government finance, liability, bail, and jail operations. Senate Bill 1288, by Senator Gillespie, would require the state and political subdivisions to equally share FEMA-related matching costs for federally declared disasters; supporters said it would codify long-standing practice and provide certainty for local governments, with an estimated fiscal impact of just under $4.9 million. After questions about future appropriations and delayed reimbursements, the bill advanced on a 9-0 vote. Senate Bill 2019, by Senator Logan, would create a political subdivision liability insurance guarantee program and fund to help local governments and shared insurance pools manage large federal civil rights judgments. Members questioned the bill’s scope and whether it applied to catastrophic events or civil rights cases; the author said it was intended to spread the burden of large judgments over time and reduce pressure on property taxpayers. The committee adopted a title-off motion and advanced the bill 7-2. Chair Hamilton presented Senate Bills 1705, 1878, and 2118. SB 1705 would bar nonprofits from bailing people out of jail if they receive public funds, with supporters citing public safety and opponents raising concerns about impacts on nonprofit and church-based assistance; it passed 7-2. SB 1878 would establish a uniform bail schedule, limit personal recognizance release for certain repeat or higher-risk offenders, and require court approval to lower certain bonds; it also passed 7-2. SB 2118 would clarify how county sheriffs may use commissary funds for jail-related purposes such as training, equipment, inmate care, and operations; it passed 7-2. The committee then adjourned.

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Bills: SB 302, SB 1335, SB 1734, SB 1760, SB 1975, SB 2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, guardianship, incapacitated persons, guardianship fees

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing is to take up and consider the governor Abbott's emergency items related to bail reform for the
• They've already made a statement against this bail reform on their website.
• reform.
• Bail reform was sold to this country and this state.
• , but SJR 1 is not bail reform.

Bills: SB9, SB1047, SB1048, SJR17, SJR49, SB40, SJR1, SJR5, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 1

Keywords: bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, criminal procedure, public safety report, victim notification, family violence, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunction, taxpayer rights, violent crimes, sexual offenses, community safety, constitutional amendment, trafficking

Transcript Highlights:

• Reforms that uphold the rights and dignity of every individual, ensuring that justice is both fair and

Bills: SB9, SB1047, SB1048, SJR17, SJR49, SB40, SJR1, SJR5, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 1

Keywords: bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, criminal procedure, public safety report, victim notification, family violence, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunction, taxpayer rights, violent crimes, sexual offenses, community safety, constitutional amendment, trafficking

Bills: SB1288, SB1705, SB1878, SB2019, SB2118

Keywords: emergency management, federal funding, disaster relief, cost sharing, public assistance, bail reform, public funds, nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, injunctive relief, criminal procedure, surety bond, judicial discretion, uniform bond schedule, liability insurance, judgments, insurance fund, Oklahoma, county sheriff, commissary

Bills: SB200, SB206, SB200, SB206

Keywords: accountability courts, drug offenders, mental health, substance abuse, veterans, court reform, recidivism reduction, treatment programs, veterans benefits, advising, deceptive trade practices, accreditation, compensation, minority affairs, civic engagement, Alabama office, community outreach, government affairs, codification, laws

Bills: HB1318

Keywords: HB 1318, pesticide labeling, pesticide warning, duty to warn, failure to warn, labeling defense, EPA-approved label, Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, FIFRA, North Dakota agriculture commissioner, product liability, tort reform, preemption, carcinogenicity classification, human health assessment, pesticide regulation, agricultural chemicals, herbicide, insecticide, rodenticide

Summary: The Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee met on April 10 and took up House Bill 1318, a bill dealing with pesticide-related liability and warning-label issues. The chair explained that the bill had drawn strong interest from both agriculture and public health sides, and that the committee was trying to craft language that would protect consumers without unduly harming agricultural production. He said the committee had worked through multiple draft amendments and was now considering Amendment 1006, which was described as a compromise combining earlier proposals and narrowing the bill’s scope to pesticides registered with the state commissioner. Members discussed whether the amendment would weaken the original intent of the bill. Senator Myrdal said the revised language added needed guardrails and addressed concerns about overly broad preemption language and warning-label standards, while also preserving agriculture’s ability to operate. After a motion to rescind the earlier action on the bill passed, Amendment 1006 was adopted unanimously by the members present. A motion to move the bill without committee recommendation failed for lack of a second. The committee then voted on House Bill 1318 as amended. The do-pass motion passed on a roll call vote, with Senators Weber, Luick, Myrdal, and Lemm voting yes, and Senators Marcellais and Weston voting no. The chair said he would carry the bill. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff for their work during the session, and the chair noted he might call the committee back if a conference committee report required further input.

Transcript Highlights:

• all the work that the bill authors, Sunset staff, and the Sunset Commission have done to suggest reforms
• We do believe that more reforms around the Board of Pardons and Paroles' discretion should be implemented

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas bishops support criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas bishops support criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard testimony on several bills dealing with criminal discovery, crime lab access, controlled substances, community supervision, interference with officers, oilfield theft, and copper theft. On SB 1124, witnesses split over whether the bill clarified discovery law after the Heath decision or rolled back the Michael Morton Act; opponents argued it narrowed disclosure and shifted responsibility away from prosecutors, while supporters said it restored balance, limited harsh sanctions, and preserved exculpatory-disclosure duties. The committee later voted 4-0 to report SB 1124 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard and later reported favorably SB 1372, which resolves a statutory conflict over access to the DPS crime lab portal, and SB 1936, which changes how LSD “abuse units” are defined for testing and charging purposes; both were sent to the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1937, which would require a subject-matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence, was also reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard SB 552, which would make people defined in the bill as “illegal aliens” ineligible for judge-ordered or jury-recommended community supervision, including deferred adjudication. Supporters said the bill would prevent state-funded early release of people who entered or remained in the country unlawfully, while county officials and immigration advocates warned it would be overbroad, difficult to administer, and costly to local jails and taxpayers. Despite those concerns, the committee voted to report SB 552 favorably, and Senator Huffman requested it be taken to the floor. On SB 1208, which increases interference with a peace officer or public official from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony, law enforcement witnesses said repeat “auditors” and similar actors were creating dangerous confrontations and needed stronger deterrence; opponents argued the bill would chill protected filming and protest activity. The committee voted to report SB 1208 favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also took testimony on SB 1806, a committee substitute addressing oilfield theft and related crimes. Supporters from law enforcement and the oil and gas industry said organized theft of crude, equipment, and related materials is a growing problem and that the bill would strengthen penalties, allow seizure and sale of stolen product, and improve inspection and forensic tools. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with placement on the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 1646, which targets copper theft and fiber vandalism by increasing penalties, requiring reporting and recordkeeping for certain purchases, and adding training and enforcement tools. Telecommunications, law enforcement, and emergency-network witnesses supported the bill as necessary to protect 9-1-1 and critical infrastructure, while metal recyclers warned the bill could overregulate legitimate businesses and sweep too broadly. The committee later voted to report the committee substitute for SB 1646 favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• appreciate all the work that the bill authors, Sunset staff, and the Sunset Commission has done to suggest reforms
• We do believe that more reforms around the Board of Pardons and Paroles' discretion should be implemented
• appreciate all the work that the bill authors, Sunset staff, and the Sunset Commission has done to suggest reforms
• We do believe that more reforms around the Board of Pardons and Paroles' discretion should be implemented

Bills: SB552, SB1099, SB1124, SB1208, SB1372, SB1506, SB1667, SB1804, SB1806, SB1870, SB1936, SB1937, SB2180, SB2405, SB2569, SB2570, SB1646

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending. SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Bills: HF1338

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Bills: HB2255, HB2354, HB2595, HB2320, HB2597

Keywords: litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, common interest communities, homeowners association, property management, housing regulations, community governance, criminal justice, judgment, collateral attack, legal proceedings, sentencing reform, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee met on February 4 and took executive action on five bills. House Bill 2255 on litigation finance would require disclosures and prohibit certain acts by third-party litigation funders; members described it as a transparency measure rather than a ban, and it was reported out 12-1. House Bill 2354 on WUCIOA and small common interest communities would exempt smaller communities from many WUCIOA requirements, adjust reserve study and audit rules, and was reported out unanimously 13-0. The committee also advanced House Bill 2595, which extends the deadline for post-conviction collateral attacks from one year to three years and allows the Office of Public Defense to represent eligible indigent offenders in those proceedings. Supporters framed it as an access-to-justice measure, while opponents warned of added strain on the courts; it passed 8-5. Before voting, the committee heard staff summaries of House Bill 2320 on restricting manufacture and distribution of certain firearms made with 3D printers or CNC machines, and House Bill 2597 on civil remedies for constitutional violations during immigration enforcement. For House Bill 2320, the committee adopted Representative Walsh’s amendment removing a rebuttable presumption about intent tied to digital firearm manufacturing code, then reported the substitute bill out 8-5. Supporters said the substitute was narrowed after stakeholder input to target untraceable firearms without unduly affecting hobbyists or industry, while opponents argued it remained too broad and could chill lawful 3D printing. House Bill 2597, as amended by substitute, would create a civil cause of action for constitutional violations during civil immigration enforcement, align some defenses with Section 1983 practice, and shorten the limitations period to two years; it was also reported out 8-5 after supporters emphasized remedies for rights violations and opponents questioned its necessity and scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, the Texas Legislature passed historic reforms to community college funding and education
• As part of these reforms, the legislature authorized community colleges the option to offer core curricula

Bills: SB2847, SB3039

Keywords: higher education, bachelor's degree, core curriculum, general education, semester credit hours, credit hours, degree acceleration, time to degree, workforce-aligned credentials, workforce readiness, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public universities, community colleges, transferability, curriculum reform, academic requirements, degree completion, transfer students, education transparency, academic credit