Bills: SB221, SB224, HB440

Keywords: Mobile County, judge of probate, compensation, salary, expense allowance, electronic monitoring, pretrial defendants, criminal justice, court programs, supervision fees, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let these men and women lead with courage and conviction defending what is good. and standing firm against
• In Wells County, the defendant killed his wife.
• Senate Bill 9 relating to the release of defendants on bail, the duties of a magistrate and certain criminal
• You know, defend it, this specific defendant, but there is not that in the system.
• The county for refunding a defendants posted bill to the nonprofit that originally paid the bill.

Bills: SJR 1, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 36, SJR 1, SJR 5, SB 9, SB 40

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Today they are responsible for enforcing both wildlife laws and criminal laws.

Bills: SJR1, SB9, SB40, SJR36, SJR1, SJR5, SB9, SB40

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, 1185, senate

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Committee of Criminal Justice will now come, it will be reopened.
• Good Social Science and criminal justice pre-law at St. Edward's University.
• them bail no matter how dangerous they believe that defendant to be.
• Allowing judges to detain high-risk defendants prior to trial is not unorthodox across the nation.
• He was repeatedly criminalized for his PTSD and mental health.

Bills: SB 9, SB 1047, SB 1048, SJR 17, SJR 49, SB 40, SJR 1, SJR 5

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:

• A victim reported the defendant for stalking to law enforcement.
• He was criminally charged with harassment and stalking. He did not stop contacting the victim.
• Now, they are criminally obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and a witness.
• of confinement, retribution and general deterrence are reserved for the criminal system.
• It is a civil trial, but they actually use that higher burden of proof from a criminal trial.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we're going to move to tab 3, SB 778 on forensic services for certain defendants by Senator Simon
• The bill amends our statutes to add criminal penalties for health care practitioners who willfully or
• And your bill creates new criminal penalties as well as a civil cause of action?
• Citizens Defending Freedom most strongly supports. Thank you. Thank you.
• I'm I'm here speaking on behalf of Citizens Defending Freedom in support of SB 1010 in Miami.

Bills: S0560, S0590, S0778, S1010

Keywords: child welfare, psychotropic medication, Department of Children and Families, community-based care, liability insurance, forensic services, defendants, mental health, judicial system, defense, legal definitions, minors, healthcare, parental rights, criminal penalties, civil action, sex-reassignment, investigations, economic damages

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered four bills. SB 590, by Sen. Bradley, would toll the statute of limitations for failure to report suspected child abuse by mandatory reporters until the offense is known to law enforcement; an amendment clarified retroactive application for offenses not already time-barred by the bill’s effective date. Sen. Bradley said the bill is intended to ensure accountability in institutional abuse cases and not to change the reasonable-suspicion reporting standard. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 778, by Sen. Simon, which would update the definition of forensic client so certain individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed for incompetency can be housed with other Chapter 916 residents, reducing duplicative staffing and space needs at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Barney Bishop appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably without amendment. SB 560, by Sen. Garcia, would streamline procedures for psychotropic medication prescriptions for children in DCF custody, reduce duplicative background checks and reporting, and simplify consent documentation. Amendments removed language allowing licensed clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists to serve as evaluators and narrowed changes to the Road to Independence Program’s postsecondary education services and supports, extending eligibility ages from 18 to 26 while keeping the five-year cap. Senators discussed the fiscal impact and funding blend for the education stipend. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 1010, by Sen. Yarbrough, which adds criminal and civil enforcement for violations involving sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures for minors and related parental-rights provisions. An amendment clarified that the civil action authority applies to minors and that damages benefit the affected minor. Public testimony was heavily divided, with supporters saying the bill enforces existing protections and opponents warning it would chill care, counseling, and school-based support for transgender youth. Senators Harrell, Sharief, and Rouson raised concerns about vagueness, standing, and impacts on teachers and health professionals; Sharief voted no, while the bill was still reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1021 seeks to prioritize victim safety by making defendants... Intimidation.
• In 2017, a victim reported the defendant for stalking to law enforcement. His behavior...
• A victim reported the defendant for stalking to law enforcement.
• Now they are criminally obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and a witness.
• It is a civil trial, but they actually use that higher burden of proof from a criminal trial.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Summary: The Corrections Committee first took up pending business and reported several previously heard bills favorably to the full House, including HB 1515 and SB 2405, the TDCJ Sunset bill and its Senate companion, HB 5639 on the veteran housing program, HB 2854 on hospital visits as a parole or mandatory supervision condition and related hospital liability, and SB 1080 on occupational licenses for people with criminal convictions. The committee also heard and advanced SB 1080 without amendment, then moved into new business. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3618, which would limit invasive group strip searches of female inmates in TDCJ facilities. Formerly incarcerated women and advocates testified in support, describing humiliation, trauma, barriers to programming, and arguing that searches were often ineffective and that contraband more often comes from staff. TDCJ’s resource witness said the agency has looked at technology such as millimeter scanners and is in the process of placing them in facilities, while the bill sponsor said the measure would preserve searches in emergencies and require female officers when women are unclothed. HB 3618 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4515 on expanding orders of nondisclosure, with the author saying the committee substitute would narrow the bill to marijuana possession only; supporters from Alliance for Safety and Justice and Right on Crime argued it would improve reentry and public safety, while members asked about eligibility and related offenses. HB 1826, requiring depression screenings for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women, drew support from women’s health advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses; the bill was left pending. HB 1969, to help people leaving prison renew or obtain driver’s licenses, and HB 2708, expanding nondisclosure eligibility for certain misdemeanor convictions, were also laid out and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 2729, which would bar hearsay evidence in hearings on violations of release conditions, and SB 1021, which would make stalking convictions ineligible for community supervision and add related victim-protection provisions; both were left pending. SB 1610, addressing civil commitment facility safety, sex offender registration, and penalties for assaults on staff, drew strong opposition from civil commitment residents, family members, and civil rights advocates who argued it was punitive and raised due process concerns; the resource witness said assaults had increased and explained the civil commitment process and existing legal safeguards. Finally, HB 4764 would require TDCJ to report detailed annual data on restrictive housing; supporters said the bill would improve transparency around solitary confinement, and the committee left it pending before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• When a criminal defendant deems a, when a criminal court deems a defendant incompetent to stand trial
• No criminal penalty, there's no civil penalty.
• It may be it may be criminal matter or it may be.
• And as we all know, that kind of word spreads quickly, especially among. younger criminal defendants.
• And I don't think we should pass a law that criminalizes... criminalizes everybody for the worst-case

Bills: HB268, HB305, HB307, HB380, HB548, HB727, HB268, HB305, HB307

Keywords: false reporting, emergency response, criminal penalties, restitution, public safety, penalties, emergency services, public institutions, false reports, criminal penalty, pretrial hearings, criminal competency, legal process, court timelines, restoration of competency, fines, community service, credit, criminal justice, defendants

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and this is the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice
• defendants in that matter.
• The sister of the defendant called a juror. That scared the daylights out of this young lady.
• The violation is a new criminal offense and not a revocation.
• However, I find our biggest violations are new criminal conduct, not reporting to the officer.

Bills: HB54, HB55, HB125, HB133, HB158, HB161, HB168, HB169, HB191, HB245, HB280, HB296, HB399, HB821, HB995

Keywords: parole, rehabilitation, mental health, substance abuse, criminal justice reform, alternative sentencing, juror confidentiality, public records, criminal procedure, privacy, court disclosure, sex offender, sex offense, child predator, registry, registration, notification, supervised release, probation and parole, juvenile offender

Transcript Highlights:

• From a legal standpoint, we've never had a definition of 'cost judgment' or 'criminal judgment.'
• Number one is a criminal or a cost judgment, and you know how that implements with the Title 28 Section
• By ordering the defendant to give up a bond of up to 10% of the current market value of the property.
• Yeah, and court case, you're saying a criminal case, and that makes sense.
• This impacts or modifies the criminal discovery process that we use in the state.

Bills: HB2650, HB3277, HB3386, HB3419, HB3430, HB3742, HB3791, HB3835, HB3905, HB3968, HB4119, HB4153, HB4408

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• From a legal standpoint, we've never had a definition of cost judgment or criminal judgment, and when
• This isn't a criminal action, and this is a VPO.
• For follow-up: Yeah, and court case, you're saying a criminal case, and that makes sense.
• This impacts or modifies the criminal discovery process that we use in the state.
• This impacts or modifies the criminal discovery process that we use in the state.

Bills: HB2650, HB3277, HB3386, HB3419, HB3430, HB3742, HB3791, HB3835, HB3905, HB3968, HB4119, HB4153, HB4408

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Summary: The committee considered a series of House bills dealing with criminal justice, courts, public safety, housing, and related administrative issues. Early measures included HB 3419, which would extend penalties for sharing bid information before public release and bar violators from contracting with the state or its subdivisions, and HB 4153, which reinstates a repealed driver-qualification statute and updates it to include service in Oklahoma. Members also advanced HB 3430 on court costs, fines, and fee collection, though it drew concerns about terminology, collection practices, and whether it conflicted with earlier reform efforts; the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association testified that the bill would not authorize incarceration absent willful nonpayment and that collection fees have long been set at 20%. The committee also approved HB 3791, a health-care-for-minors bill worked out with the DO and MD boards, and HB 4119, a cleanup measure on VIN inspections for salvage vehicles. HB 4408, a LOFT request bill tied to calculating savings from State Questions 780 and 781 and directing funds to the Community Safety Investment Fund, was presented as a zero-fiscal-impact technical fix after court and DOC data issues were resolved. HB 3905 would allow judges to order GPS monitoring for certain stalking and domestic-violence-related defendants, with the victim able to receive proximity alerts; members questioned the scope of victim notification and the fact that the bill applies in civil VPO proceedings as well as criminal cases, but it was advanced. Later, HB 3968 was presented as codifying a Supreme Court decision, though members raised a late-added fiscal note and possible ODOT/OTA issues; the bill was still passed out of committee, with discussion of striking title on the floor if needed. HB 3835 would create a path for trafficking survivors to seek relief from convictions tied to their victimization, and HB 3386 would require mediation in eviction cases involving minor children; that bill prompted extensive debate over whether it created an affirmative defense, potential Fair Housing Act concerns, and whether it shifted costs to landlords, with the author agreeing to strike title and revise the language. The committee also advanced HB 2650 on summary administrations in probate and HB 3742, a negotiated criminal discovery bill, after adopting a small amendment limiting certain recordings to those directly related to the case and changing “approximate” to “appropriate.”

Transcript Highlights:

• defendants.
• rests on whether or not a defendant has access to counsel.
• Systems that counties use to provide legal services to indigent criminal defendants.
• Defendants involved in the criminal justice system can lead to disaster, especially when a lawyer has
• affects criminal appellate procedures in capital punishment cases.

Bills: HB115, HB 115, HB507, HB1765, HB1847, HB2046, HB2239, HB2328, HB2309, HB2417, HB2728, HB2794, HB3206, HB3566, HB3694, HB3744, HB4254, HB4697, HB4733, HB4915, HB5465, HB2813

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it may be necessary to be said that criminal justice, criminal procedure, and criminal cases
• I mean, is that going to affect my ability as a criminal defendant?
• This doctrine actually started in the criminal courts on the criminal side.
• The bill replaces "criminally injurious conduct" with "criminal offense," making it easier for victims
• Many indigent defendants will rely on court-appointed counsel to defend their lives in court.

Bills: HB 115, HB507, HB1765, HB1847, HB2046, HB2239, HB2328, HB2309, HB2417, HB2728, HB2794, HB3206, HB3566, HB3694, HB3744, HB4254, HB4697, HB4733, HB4915, HB5465, HB2813, HB115

Keywords: habeas corpus, postconviction, criminal procedure, indigent defense, scientific evidence, legal representation, judicial power, capital felony, criminal law, death penalty, attorney qualification, training standards, law enforcement, no-knock warrant, search warrant, peace officer, attorney workload, criminal justice, caseload limits, fair representation

Transcript Highlights:

• is exculpatory to the defendant, and anything that could be used to impeach a witness, like a criminal
• then afterwards a criminal defendant can get two levels of post-conviction review.
• This bill amends Code of Criminal Procedure Article 320(J) to require defendants charged with human trafficking
• It requires the court to consider criminal history and whether a defendant poses a threat to the victim
• It requires the court to consider criminal history and whether a defendant poses a threat to the victim

Bills: HB63, HB91, HB98, HB108, HB131, HB151, HB161, HB294, HB305, HB310, HB320, HB336, HB622, HB789, HB1040

Keywords: HB63, Louisiana bail, bail bond, surety, failure to appear, FTA, bench warrant, NCIC, National Crime Information Center, criminal procedure, Article 331, defendant registry, surrender of defendant, rule to show cause, law enforcement records, pretrial release, bond forfeiture, disclosure, criminal records, witness protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Let these men and women lead with courage and conviction, defending what is good. and standing firm against
• And actually, we have cases throughout the state of Texas where you have had a defendant who. in this
• In Wells County, the defendant killed his wife.
• That have been taking place as it relates to violent criminals. Absolutely.
• Senate Bill 9 relating to the release of defendants on bail, the duties of a magistrate and certain criminal

Bills: SJR1, SB9, SB40, SJR36, SJR1, SJR5, SB9, SB40, SJR1, SB9, SB40, SR62, SR92, SR95, SR108, SR110, SR111, SR113, SR114, SR117, SR120, SB314, SB314

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, El Paso, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• The lawyer fees we are defending ourselves from the state on so many... send a lawyer back there takes
• You have to stand up and watch criminals all night long.

Bills: SJR 1, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 36, SJR 1, SJR 5, SB 9, SB 40, SR 61, SR 91, SR 97, SR 103, SR 104, SR 112, SR 115, SR 116, SCR 16, SB 26, SB 26

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, Texas Music Advocacy Day, music industry

Transcript Highlights:

• defendant on parole at the time he or she is charged with a new offense, a defendant who has been previously
• many things... things in play for criminals, and we have lost sight of why we have a criminal justice
• First, it provides information about the defendant to the judge, including their criminal history and
• a defendant in custody.
• One of those defendants, it was 19-year-old Frederick Jackson, extensive juvenile criminal history.

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:

• 2 The Senate Committee for Criminal Justice will now come, it will be re-opened.
• Thank you. 11 science and criminal justice pre-law at St.
• This creates a system in which high-risk defendants can be held accountable for their actions.
• Defendants who can afford bail can buy their freedom, despite the public safety threat they pose.
• To detain high-risk defendants, priority trial is not unorthodox across the nation.

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:

• The Court of Criminal Appeals, their entire Budget is 4.69 million.

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse

Transcript Highlights:

• The Court of Criminal Appeals, their entire budget is $4.69 million.

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse

Summary: The committee first handled several housekeeping items: SB 1330 was withdrawn, SB 1381 was laid over, and SB 1618 was transferred to rules. It then heard a series of bills, mostly criminal justice, public safety, and regulatory measures, with members repeatedly moving due pass recommendations after brief explanations and little or no debate. SB 1589 would strengthen penalties under Oklahoma’s sweepstakes law and extend coverage to entities profiting from illegal gambling, while not affecting ordinary entertainment games. SB 1441 would make it a crime to fly a drone in the airspace of, or make contact with, designated critical infrastructure facilities such as refineries, power stations, telecommunications sites, and manufacturing facilities, with exceptions for recreational use and authorized law enforcement. SB 1224 would require clemency-related hearing notices to be sent to victims by email as well as mail, and SB 372 was described as a cleanup bill clarifying where firearms may be carried. Other bills addressed theft, domestic violence, expungement, fraud, and impersonation. SB 1232 would create a felony and raise fines for copper theft; SB 1264, after an adopted amendment, expanded the definition of great bodily injury to include concussions, brain bleeds, and injuries affecting more than 10% of the body, making domestic abuse causing such injury a felony. SB 1450 dealt with consistency in fines and fees across counties and prompted discussion about county-by-county obligations and court revenue impacts. SB 2011 would treat assault and battery against OJA contract employees the same as against employees, SB 2030 would delay implementation of the Clean Slate expungement automation initiative to 2027 and backlog processing to 2029 without expanding eligibility, SB 1980 would protect against gift card fraud after an amendment changing the mental state language to “knowingly and willfully,” and SB 1936 would make falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer a D1 felony. The committee reported the bills out with due pass recommendations, with votes recorded on several measures, including unanimous or near-unanimous approvals.