Video & Transcript Research : 'constables'
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TX
Bills:
HB40
Summary:
The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges.
Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets.
There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Apr 1st, 2026
County and Municipal Government
Transcript Highlights:
- We're trying to restructure our constable and state statute has to be amended some to allow us to do
Keywords:
voting rights, restoration, pardons, Parole Board, re-registration, conviction, states' voting laws, Lawrence County, Sheriff, credit card, debit card, government purchases, discretionary fund, financial accountability, tax distribution, Talladega County, economic development, public safety, rural infrastructure, child labor
TX
Keywords:
law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority, business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process
TX
Keywords:
business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In turn, constables can supplement HPD and provide added support.
- Constables are elected, so you're mostly referring to the constable deputies. Absolutely, yes.
- Yes, I want to know what happens if the constable is not in agreement.
- That's not what I've heard from our constables.
- Hi, do these constables, do they want to take on the extra work?
Keywords:
municipality, local government, Type A, Type B, Type C, change authority, emergency medical services, civil service status, municipal government, public safety, local government code, school funding, education, state budget, local control, equity, tenant legal services, eviction, low-income tenants, disability rights
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County & Regional Government Mar 17th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The constables had 200, and the sheriff had 100.
- Constable Ford to outline the breadth of the problem.
- Registered as Terry Albritton on behalf of your constable with Harris County Constable.
- Constable Terry Allbritton. House Bill 336.
- I didn't, first of all, I didn't file it for the constables.
Keywords:
law enforcement, sheriff, constable, contracts, county governance, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales, seasonal fireworks sales, Fourth of July, Independence Day
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 21st, 2025 at 01:04 pm
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- He's my Democrat constable from Harris County, my partner.
- constable who had been pulled over by a Precinct 5 deputy.
- Including deputy constables and administrative staff.
- because they failed to support the constable in re-election.
- One, constables are elected.
Bills:
HB240, HB2097, HB2731, HB3087, HB3234, HB3319, HB3394, HB3687, HB4105, HB4205, HB4350, HB4462, HB4642, HB4801, HB5403
Keywords:
quorum, tax levy, county governance, local government, population regulations, quorum requirement, Texas counties, population threshold, deputy sheriff, civil service, law enforcement, appeals process, sheriff's department, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code
Summary:
The subcommittee on county and regional government heard a long agenda of county-related bills, with most measures left pending after testimony. HB 2097, by Rep. Martinez, would let counties that opt in use an independent hearing examiner instead of a civil service commission for certain deputy sheriff discipline appeals; the bill drew support from CLEET’s Robert Leonard, who said it would be fairer and faster, and it was left pending. HB 4642, by Rep. Gonzalez, would require counties that contract with out-of-state jail facilities to include Texas jail-standard protections and oversight; Gonzalez, detainee Jess Hampton, his wife, Texas Jail Project’s Krish Kundu, and TCJS director Brandon Wood all discussed deaths and poor conditions in Louisiana facilities, staffing shortages, and the need for guardrails and data collection. The bill was left pending.
The committee also heard HB 4350, by Rep. Capriglione, allowing peace officers to request redaction of personal information from online real property records. Supporters said officers face targeted threats and should have protections similar to judges; a title industry witness warned about preserving the integrity of land records. The bill was left pending. HB 3687, by Rep. Harless, would require county fire marshals in counties over 100,000 to meet training and certification standards within set timeframes; Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen supported professionalization, and the bill was left pending. HB 4105 would let very large counties give a local-bid preference for construction and infrastructure contracts, and HB 4205 would require pay parity for similar law enforcement ranks within large counties; both were supported by Harris County officials and constables and left pending.
Later, the committee heard HB 5403, which would repeal a special rule limiting Dallas and Tarrant county sheriffs’ control over commissary funds; the author said it would remove an outdated population bracket, and the bill was left pending. HB 4462 would require large counties to allow elected officials named in civil suits to seek outside counsel and have a role in settlement decisions; supporters argued county attorneys and commissioners court can have conflicts of interest, while questions focused on who qualifies and whether the bill could complicate settlements. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 240, by Rep. Swanson, would restore a five-member quorum requirement for Harris County tax levies, effectively preventing tax action without all commissioners present and defaulting to the no-new-revenue rate if quorum is not met; urban counties opposed it as a potential budget obstruction, while supporters said it protects taxpayers and representation. That bill was also left pending. The transcript ends as the committee begins HB 3319, which would create a civil service system for constable department employees in large counties, but the discussion is cut off before testimony or action.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C County & Regional Government Apr 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Constables, this is a bipartisan ask of the committee.
- And thank you for being here today, Constable.
- I'm actually here on behalf of Constable Sherman Eagleton.
- In fact, the constables refer to them as the rollover funds.
- One of the reasons is the contracting portion because, for the most part, constable... ...so constable
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C County & Regional Government Apr 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We show you registered as Mark Herman, Constable, Harris County Constable, Precinct number 4, and self
- Uh, I sent all of you emails and so did the, uh, other constables.
- And I think there's a conversation going on between the constables, primarily the constables, but also
- Um, uh, I'm actually here on behalf of Constable Sherman Eagleton.
- Constable Herman has been reelected, I think now 3 times since taking office as constable, with more
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 21st, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- He's my Democrat constable from Harris County, my partner.
- I am the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable.
- constable who had been pulled over by a precinct deputy.
- Our constables.
- Have you registered as Larry Gallardo, registered as constable with the Justice of the Peace and Constable
Bills:
HB240, HB2097, HB2731, HB3087, HB3234, HB3319, HB3394, HB3687, HB4105, HB4205, HB4350, HB4462, HB4642, HB4801, HB5403, HB240
Keywords:
quorum, tax levy, county governance, local government, population regulations, quorum requirement, Texas counties, population threshold, deputy sheriff, civil service, law enforcement, appeals process, sheriff's department, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on County & Regional Government Apr 21st, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- He's my Democrat constable from Harris County, my partner.
- constable who had been pulled over by a Precinct 5 deputy.
- because they failed to support the constable in re-election.
- The problem as I see it is as follows: one, constables are elected.
- One, constables are elected.
Bills:
HB240
Summary:
The subcommittee heard a series of county and regional government bills, with most measures left pending after testimony. HB 2097 would let counties that opt in give sheriff’s deputies an alternative appeal route for certain discipline cases through an independent hearing examiner instead of the Civil Service Commission. The author and a CLEET witness said it would be faster, cheaper, and fairer; questions focused on why the bill was needed and whether sheriffs could already use such a process. No opposition testified, and the bill was left pending.
HB 4642 drew extensive testimony after the author said it was prompted by a death involving an out-of-state jail contract. The bill would require counties contracting with out-of-state jail facilities to include Texas-like jail standards and oversight provisions. The author, a former detainee held in Louisiana, his wife, and a Texas Jail Project advocate described poor conditions, lack of accountability, and multiple deaths of Texans housed out of state. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards director said five counties are currently housing 1,251 Texas inmates out of state, mostly because of staffing shortages, and said the bill would give the commission more authority and oversight. The bill was left pending.
The committee also heard HB 4350, which would allow peace officers to request redaction of personal information from online real property records. Supporters said officers face retaliation risks and should have protections similar to judges and other officials; a title industry witness cautioned that redaction should not compromise the integrity of land records. The bill was left pending. HB 3687 would require county fire marshals in counties over 100,000 to meet specified training and certification standards, and HB 4105 and HB 4205 would give Harris County preferences in construction contracting and require pay parity for comparable law enforcement ranks within the county, respectively; all drew support from county officials and were left pending. HB 5403 would repeal a special rule requiring Dallas and Tarrant county sheriffs to get commissioners court approval for commissary disbursements, and it was also left pending.
Later, HB 4462 would let elected county officials in large counties choose outside counsel in civil cases involving them, rather than relying solely on the county attorney. Supporters argued this would reduce conflicts of interest and protect officials’ reputations; questions centered on who qualifies and whether it could conflict with county interests. Finally, HB 240 would restore a five-member quorum requirement for Harris County tax levies, effectively requiring all commissioners to be present before a new tax rate can be adopted; supporters framed it as a taxpayer protection, while the Conference of Urban Counties opposed it as giving one member a de facto veto and potentially disrupting the budget process. Both bills were left pending.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on County & Regional Government May 5th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- and deputy constables.
- Uh, constables provide a vital law enforcement administrative role for our county.
- We help fund deputy constables to help us with a rapidly increasing workload.
- I am Constable Randy Earl Parks, Precinct 4, Rockville County in my 20 years of service.
- I am Tony Norton, president-elect of North Texas Just the Peace and Constables Association.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County & Regional Government May 5th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- and deputy constables.
- Constables provide a vital law enforcement administrative role for our county.
- Could your county increase the constable salaries without the grant?
- Registered is Randy Parks, Constable for Rockwall County? Yes.
- I am Cosmo Randy Earl Parks, Constable for Precinct 4, Rockwall County.
Keywords:
county jailer, jail training, veterans, Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, TCOLE, criminal justice system, county jail, law enforcement training, mental health training, jail standards, correctional officers, veteran services, veteran interaction, occupations code, jailer licensing, parking, county courthouse, infrastructure, local government
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, so constables are elected, so you're mostly referring to the constable deputies.
- So the idea is that the constables are involved in that conversation as well.
- Yes, yeah, I want to know if, what if the constable is not the elected constable is not in agreement.
- We want our constable, our local constable, which is Precinct 6, that works in, you know, in conjunction
- Hi. um, do these, um, constables, do they want to take on the extra work?
Bills:
HB303
DE
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 324 will allow the constable agency they employ to obtain handguns for new constables without
- It works along with DSP, and for DSP, the qualified constable agency representative in the constable
- on behalf of any constable working for that employer for use in their official duties.
- Senate Bill 324 allows constable agencies to purchase firearms for new constables while remaining compliant
- Plain and simple, we can’t buy firearms for constables until this bill passes.
Keywords:
HB372, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware courts, Title 10, court administration, judicial staffing, county courts, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, Wilmington, 24-hour hearings, court locations, court hours, magistrate court, access to justice, court consolidation, Delaware General Assembly, destructive weapon, possessing a destructive weapon
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee met and heard three bills. HB 372 would reorganize Justice of the Peace Court resources by shifting the number of judges and court locations among counties, consolidating overnight operations into a single 24-hour court in Kent County, and adjusting staffing to address workload and efficiency concerns. Chief Judge Alan Davis said the change responds to increased civil filings, automated enforcement, and staffing shortages, and that a Sussex County pilot closing a 24-hour facility had worked without major issues. Some members raised concerns about impacts on Sussex and Kent County, bail processing, and local response times, while public comment included one supporter. The committee voted to release HB 372.
The committee then considered SB 324, which amends Delaware’s permit-to-purchase law to allow constable agencies, including those serving institutions like Delaware Tech, to purchase handguns for newly hired constables without duplicative background checks. Sponsor Representative Cook said the bill aligns constable procurement with existing law-enforcement exemptions while preserving gun-safety requirements. Public testimony included support from Delaware Tech and comments urging broader fixes to the permit-to-purchase law, including exemptions for retired officers with federal 218 credentials and clarification on firearms returned from manufacturers, gunsmiths, or police departments. The committee voted to release SB 324.
Finally, the committee heard HB 414, which clarifies that the Superior Court’s exclusive jurisdiction over certain destructive-weapon offenses applies only to adults, while juvenile cases would still begin in Family Court. Sponsor Representative Romer said the bill preserves the Family Court’s role in handling youth cases and allows referral to Superior Court when appropriate. The Department of Justice said it still believes Superior Court is the proper venue for these serious charges, while the Office of Defense Services supported keeping youth cases in Family Court first, arguing that rehabilitation and juvenile-specific dispositions are more appropriate. After public comment, the committee voted to release HB 414, and the meeting adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, to bring back to my four constables in Harris County that I represent.
- We don't have any kind of issue with the constables.
- All of your four constables are personal friends of mine as well. They do a great job.
- We'll get you that data from the constables because I don't have access to their data.
- So I understood that the toll authority had a contract with the constables.
Keywords:
commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee reconvened on SB 2722, as substituted by Senator Bettencourt, which would redirect a portion of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus revenues to the City of Houston and impose audit and tax-rate penalty provisions. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz testified in support, arguing that Houston bears a large share of toll-road public safety burdens, citing thousands of police and fire responses on toll-road property and the need for compensation for emergency services. Bill King, testifying neutrally, said the toll authority generates large excess revenues and urged stronger oversight and clearer controls on how the money is spent. Opponents, including Harris County officials, business and neighborhood representatives, and toll-road critics, argued the bill would divert transportation dollars, create a precedent for taking toll revenues for general municipal use, and could worsen project delivery and incentives; several also questioned the accuracy and interpretation of the revenue figures and the lack of comparable audit requirements for the city. The committee took extensive testimony but left SB 2722 pending without a vote.
The committee then heard SB 2129, which would increase fines for motorists who disregard railroad crossing gates or flaggers, and SB 2323, which would redact railroad crew members’ personal information from public accident reports. Both bills were presented as safety measures, with railroad labor testimony in support, and both were left pending after brief public testimony. The committee also heard SB 2141, a Zaffirini bill concerning specialty license plates for judges, with the substitute aimed at reducing security risks by changing how judges are identified on plates; it too was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard SB 2439, another Zaffirini bill, described as a TDLR cleanup measure related to ATV and off-highway vehicle safety certification. The bill would abolish the current training and certification program, which supporters said was burdensome and underused given the small number of approved instructors statewide. With no significant opposition on the record, the committee closed testimony and left SB 2439 pending as well.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- So, representing the Constable Association, I have Constable Scott Blake to give more information on
- My name is Constable Scott Blake. I am the president of the Arizona Constables Association.
- All it does is hurt the victims, besides what the constables just said.
- The City of Phoenix is on a six-month backlog trying to serve... ...constables just said.
- I will meet with Constable Blake, and I will gather the information.
Keywords:
felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, drive-by shooting, gun violence, firearms, felony, vehicle forfeiture, driver license revocation, drive by shooting, public safety, criminal penalties, education, funding, school districts, state aid, education reform
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee heard a series of bills dealing largely with sexual exploitation, homicide, reproductive issues, child support, venue changes, domestic violence service of process, probation notice, and traffic offenses. HB 2133 would require websites distributing sexual material to verify age and consent for each depicted person, including AI-generated or altered images; it drew opposition from Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice over added complexity, and support from survivors and trafficking advocates, and passed 7-1. HB 2043 would expand felony murder to include the death of an unborn child; reproductive rights groups and defense attorneys raised personhood and abortion-related concerns, while prosecutors and victims’ advocates supported it, and it passed 6-2. HB 2144 would allow child support calculations to begin during pregnancy and limit pregnancy-related orders to medical and related expenses; supporters framed it as responsibility and support for pregnant women, while opponents warned about fetal personhood and abortion-related implications, and it passed 6-2.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So, if the constables... This is just for the constables, it doesn't apply to the sheriff's office?
- It applies to both the sheriff's office and the constables.
- And I can tell you that Constable Alan Rosen's here.
- He's one of our Democrat constables, and he's going to speak.
- Allen Rosen, Harris County Constable Precinct.
Keywords:
HB26, law enforcement contracts, sheriff, constable, county commissioners court, commissioners court, private security, special law enforcement district, property owners association, POA, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, local government, contract policing, supplemental police services, large counties, population over 3.3 million, Texas Local Government Code, Harris County
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, to bring back to my four constables in Harris County that I represent.
- We don't have any kind of issue with the constables.
- All of your four constables are personal friends of mine as well. They do a great job.
- So, I understood that the toll authority had a contract with the constables.
- In 2024 alone, constable deputies handled nearly 160,000 incidents on our system.
Keywords:
commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The constable has to try three times, then go back to the court.
- to serve a writ, not just a constable.
- You're not thrown out on the street unless a constable or, in our...
- I started as a deputy constable in 1996.
- Orozco, I've got you registered; you're a constable. You're Dallas County Constable Precinct 5?
Bills:
HB32, HB15, HB171, HB421, HB581, HB644, HB745, HB349, HB917, HB204, HB923, HB15, HB171, HB204
Keywords:
eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581