All Roll Calls
Yes: 324 • No: 76
TexasHB 420589th Legislature Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Relating to compensation and employment benefits for law enforcement personnel in certain counties.
Sponsored By: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Sam Harless
Became Law
County Government--Employees/OfficersFire Fighters & Police--GeneralLaw EnforcementSalaries & ExpensesEMPLOYEE BENEFITS & LEAVELAW ENFORCEMENT, TEXAS COMMISSION ON
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Employment coverage expands for county police
Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas's Chapter 174 employment rules cover counties as well as cities. Covered officers include qualifying police department staff, district attorney investigators, and county fire marshal staff. They must work full-time for pay, regularly perform professional law enforcement, and be sworn, certified, or licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; department chiefs are excluded. County officials who set pay, hours, and working conditions now count as public employers. The chapter overrides conflicting state and local rules, including commissioners court, civil service commission, and personnel board rules.
Equal raises for qualifying county police
In Texas counties with at least 3.3 million people, the law requires matching pay or benefit increases within an officer class. When the commissioners court approves an increase, all officers in that class whose pay and benefits are primarily county-funded must get the same amount. This applies only to increases adopted on or after September 1, 2025. The county must fund each county law-enforcement agency, office, or department's required increase without cutting any law-enforcement budget component because of it. The law sets no raise amount and does not require the county to approve a raise.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Sam Harless
House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 25 • No: 6
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 25 • No: 6
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 25 • No: 6
Senate vote • 5/21/2025
Record vote
Yes: 25 • No: 6
House vote • 5/10/2025
Record vote
Yes: 103 • No: 27
House vote • 5/9/2025
Record vote
Yes: 106 • No: 24
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Intergovernmental Affairs
Yes: 9 • No: 1
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Local Government
Yes: 6 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective on 9/1/25
6/20/2025HouseFiled without the Governor's signature
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
5/23/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
5/23/2025SenateSigned in the House
5/23/2025HouseReported enrolled
5/22/2025HouseSenate passage reported
5/21/2025HouseRecord vote
5/21/2025SenatePassed
5/21/2025SenateRead 3rd time
5/21/2025SenateRecord vote
5/21/2025SenateThree day rule suspended
5/21/2025SenateRecord vote
5/21/2025SenateRead 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
5/21/2025SenateRecord vote
5/21/2025SenateRules suspended-Regular order of business
5/21/2025SenateRules suspended-Intent Calendar
5/21/2025SenatePlaced on intent calendar
5/21/2025SenateCommittee report printed and distributed
5/16/2025SenateRecommended for local & uncontested calendar
5/16/2025SenateReported favorably w/o amendments
5/16/2025SenateVote taken in committee
5/15/2025SenateVote reconsidered in committee
5/15/2025SenateVote taken in committee
5/15/2025SenateConsidered in public hearing
5/15/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
Related Bills
HB 4042, Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.
HB 3372, Relating to prohibiting certain personal services performed by school district administrators; providing a civil penalty.
HB 2853, Relating to student union building fees at The University of Texas at El Paso.
HB 2518, Relating to the use of installment premium payment plans on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policies.
HB 1056, Relating to the recognition of gold and silver specie as legal tender and the establishment of a transactional currency based on gold and silver; authorizing a fee.
HB 1052, Relating to health benefit plan coverage of telemedicine, teledentistry, and telehealth appointments with an originating site or distant site located outside this state.