All Roll Calls
Yes: 425 • No: 106
TexasSB 989th Legislature Regular SessionSenate
Relating to the confinement or release of defendants before trial or sentencing, including regulating charitable bail organizations, and the conditions of and procedures for setting bail and reviewing bail decisions.
Sponsored By: Joan Huffman (Republican), John T. Smithee
Signed by Governor
Charitable & Nonprofit OrganizationsCourts--DistrictCriminal Procedure--Bail & Pretrial ReleaseElectronic Information SystemsARREST WARRANTSCRIME VICTIMSCRIMINAL RECORDSMAGISTRATESMANDATORY & COMMUNITY SUPERVISIONPROTECTIVE ORDERSCOURT ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
Victims get bail updates and input
Beginning September 1, 2025, victims and other eligible people can request bail-compliance information from the prosecutor’s office. The office must tell them whether the defendant has fully followed bail conditions. Required victim notices in English and Spanish must also explain how victims can share information with the local prosecutor. That information can help a magistrate set bail if the person who committed the offense is arrested.
Courts get faster, fuller defendant records
Public safety reports must show supervision status, current bail or pretrial program participation and conditions, specified warrants, and current protective orders. State attorneys or designated monitors must enter pretrial program conditions into the statewide law enforcement database within 10 business days of entry. They must also update or remove that information as needed. Beginning September 1, 2025, standing-order releases for Class B misdemeanors or more serious charges require completed bail forms. The forms must reach the public safety report system electronically within 48 hours after bail is set, down from 72 hours.
Prosecutors gain access to bail forms
The Office of Court Administration must give state attorneys requested access to retrieve bail forms from the public safety report system. This applies to listed offenses punishable as Class A misdemeanors or more serious offenses. Beginning January 1, 2026, the office must send each county’s elected district attorney electronic bail forms for violent-offense cases. The requirement covers bail set in that county, and each district attorney must provide an email address.
Courts must record deliberate missed appearances
Judges must record when they find that a defendant deliberately missed court after release from custody. The rule applies to Class B misdemeanors and more serious offenses. The judgment or dismissal order must state how many times the defendant deliberately failed to appear for that offense. This creates an official record that can affect later criminal court proceedings.
Required custody after serious felony pleas
Courts must hold some defendants in custody until sentencing after finding them guilty following a guilty or no-contest plea. This applies to offenses listed in Article 42A.054(a) that are second-degree felonies or more serious. The defendant must also be ineligible for community supervision under Articles 42A.055 and 42A.056. Required confinement can interrupt household income and caregiving.
State bail appeals can extend custody
Prosecutors can appeal bail they consider too low for defendants charged with listed serious offenses. They can also appeal for a new felony committed while the defendant was already on bail for a felony. A defendant held when the state appeals the bail grant must remain in custody during that appeal. Defendants already free on existing bail generally remain free while an appeal is pending. Appeals courts must review the issues afresh, speed up the case, and issue an order within 20 days after filing.
Charitable bail groups face reporting, suspensions
Charitable bail groups must report the previous month’s bond payments to the Office of Court Administration and applicable county sheriffs by the 10th. Reports must include charges, offense categories, bond amounts, applicable missed appearances, and bond forfeitures. The office must send suspected unlawful bond payments to the sheriff where they occurred. A sheriff can suspend a group’s bond payments in that county for up to one year after finding a violation. Suspension requires a sheriff’s warning within the previous 12 months for a separate unlawful payment; it can limit available bail assistance.
Defendants face tighter bail review rules
Before releasing a felony defendant on bail, a magistrate must see the defendant and review the public safety report. Magistrates covered by this restriction cannot lower bail amounts or ease conditions set by a district court, even in another county. Judges or magistrates can order rearrest and another bond when a bond is defective, too high, or too low. They can also act when bond guarantors are unacceptable or there is another good and sufficient reason. This power applies even after release under Article 17.151, and allows both correction of excessive bonds and stricter release requirements.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Joan Huffman
Republican • Senate
John T. Smithee
House
Cosponsors
Daniel Alders
House
Cecil Bell Jr.
House
Keith Bell
House
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Brian Birdwell
Republican • Senate
Greg Bonnen
House
Brad Buckley
House
Benjamin Bumgarner
House
Briscoe Cain
House
Donna Campbell
Republican • Senate
Giovanni Capriglione
House
David Cook
House
Creighton
Affiliation unavailable
Charles Cunningham
House
Pat Curry
House
Drew Darby
House
Mano DeAyala
House
Paul Dyson
House
Pete Flores
Republican • Senate
James Frank
House
Gary Gates
House
Ryan Guillen
House
Brent Hagenbuch
Republican • Senate
Bob Hall
Republican • Senate
Hancock
Affiliation unavailable
Sam Harless
House
Cody Harris
House
Caroline Harris Davila
House
Richard Hayes
House
Cole Hefner
House
Hillary Hickland
House
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Democratic • Senate
Andy Hopper
House
Bryan Hughes
Republican • Senate
Lacey Hull
House
Carrie Isaac
House
Helen Kerwin
House
Phil King
Republican • Senate
Lois Kolkhorst
Republican • Senate
Stan Lambert
House
Mitch Little
House
AJ Louderback
House
David Lowe
House
J. M. Lozano
House
John Lujan
House
Shelley Luther
House
Don McLaughlin
House
John McQueeney
House
Will Metcalf
House
Morgan Meyer
House
Mayes Middleton
Republican • Senate
Brent Money
House
Robert Nichols
Republican • Senate
Tom Oliverson
House
Tan Parker
Republican • Senate
Jared Patterson
House
Angela Paxton
Republican • Senate
Charles Perry
Republican • Senate
Katrina Pierson
House
Schatzline
Affiliation unavailable
Alan Schoolcraft
House
Charles Schwertner
Republican • Senate
Matt Shaheen
House
Shelby Slawson
House
David Spiller
House
Steve Toth
House
Ellen Troxclair
House
Cody Vasut
House
Denise Villalobos
House
Trey Wharton
House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/29/2025
Record vote
Yes: 29 • No: 2
House vote • 5/20/2025
Record vote
Yes: 118 • No: 25
House vote • 5/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 92 • No: 53
House vote • 5/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 122 • No: 20
House vote • 5/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 28 • No: 2
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2025
Record vote
Yes: 28 • No: 2
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Criminal Jurisprudence
Yes: 8 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
See remarks for effective date
6/16/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
6/16/2025HouseSent to the Governor
6/1/2025HouseSigned in the House
6/1/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
5/31/2025SenateReported enrolled
5/30/2025SenateSenate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
5/29/2025HouseRecord vote
5/29/2025SenateSenate concurs in House amendment(s)
5/29/2025SenateRead
5/29/2025SenateHouse amendment(s) laid before the Senate
5/29/2025SenateCo-author authorized
5/21/2025SenateHouse passage as amended reported
5/20/2025SenateStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/20/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#3003)
5/20/2025HousePassed
5/20/2025HouseRead 3rd time
5/20/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/19/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#2930)
5/19/2025HousePassed to 3rd reading as amended
5/19/2025HouseAmendment withdrawn (2-Cook)
5/19/2025HouseVote reconsidered (2-Cook)
5/19/2025HouseStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
5/19/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#2929)
5/19/2025HouseAmendment tabled (4-Zwiener)
5/19/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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