[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6322538,"mediaKeyId","2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc","parentId",2347292,"title","Senate bars political subdivisions from using public funds to pay nonprofits that post bail","audioSeconds",984,"startMs",6936000,"endMs",7920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc&start=6936&end=7920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc/thumbnail_6936000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322538/Texas/Senate-bars-political-subdivisions-from-using-public-funds-to-pay-nonprofits-that-post-bail","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322538-d377e496ff05b90e283f1c45aa3dc2bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170772&Signature=Ww1ljgqfUOmMjHSZ81MvgfRX4sbMPxV53N8sFkFYGzM64tlzoZb0R9T7qDvhk6J--8Iw6IzhOVIbyTTJsYALodW4m-9NMnlr4a5II6PX4ucRtIZvo2NeqiR2tAqW06CvADR~A2LK2pLYId9JQLRii1vTSuzOTvAEDGsKxCXG6xT98dAQpnXPuTXXNXLgHoBzfYbNkf-~OsWfMl4Uy7witcRQ1JEnXd7JRKyEa0ca64pxFhbI-nQm69oclqG4DRhz4mu95B-85fa97XZ~weY2naCVrhuTLC7woIvwgjwqq92guQcWOAoiGLnhElNu~QPzVmRcjrXkvvVId0lzQGhCew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Senate","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Texas Senate on Feb. 19 passed Senate Bill 40 by a vote of 27 ayes to 3 nays. The bill prohibits a political subdivision from using public funds to pay a nonprofit organization that accepts donations from the public to deposit money with the court for the purpose of posting a defendant’s bail bond.

Senator Huffman, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure responds to reports that local governments were spending public money that ultimately enabled the release of defendants, and he cited victims’ advocates who requested greater transparency. \"I want to make darn sure that it never happens,\" Huffman said on the floor, calling for statutory clarity and stronger reporting.

SB 40 creates an enforcement mechanism that allows a taxpayer or resident of the political subdivision to seek injunctive relief to stop an alleged improper transfer of public funds; a prevailing plaintiff may recover reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. The sponsor said the bill is intended to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used in a way that undermines law enforcement and public safety.

During floor debate some senators noted public records and county accounting questions. Senator Johnson said counties and the nonprofit involved (identified in committee testimony as the Bail Project) represented that transfers reflected refunds and that the nonprofit stated it no longer posts bond in Texas; he cautioned that available evidence suggested refunds rather than improper use of taxpayer funds. Senator Huffman replied that the county accounting records were opaque and that OCA lacked corresponding records showing charitable bail postings, which left unresolved questions of transparency.

The bill passed to engrossment and on final passage the tally was 27 ayes, 3 nays. Sponsors and backers said the statute will ensure transparency and let residents seek court remedies where misuse is alleged.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session February 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 40 on Feb. 19 by a 27–3 vote, prohibiting political subdivisions from using public funds to pay nonprofits that accept donations to post defendants’ bail and creating a private right of action for residents to seek injunctive relief and attorney fees.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16215,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322544,"Senate passes bill to expand bail reporting, clarify magistrate duties and restrict some personal bonds",1190,5623000,6813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc&start=5623&end=6813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc/thumbnail_5623000.jpg","/articles/6322544/Texas/Senate-passes-bill-to-expand-bail-reporting-clarify-magistrate-duties-and-restrict-some-personal-bonds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322544-ceed2f677bd95b8970140f5832e8e828/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170772&Signature=oACj~Uv9azNPXZmRRLRSu2udGOjfdFLbJDfiio3hriVdMdUOWdIrjGcgW~i4lGaA190~hJuAJfKp0LLxLZTLHY~zLIveuBYTBHkZMWoC7o3Y2Yi3pjfwqP5HiNSFDgQU4TK9288TEWchyr7F6yJxEo3AJRi~yuUPm-KWKEPAnJ9SuXWK0u7WXKpjaJUG-KTH2XDGL5-xfzeHJfZS2aygIotUyqCPVYCWvrmhfkDlNvoFTSNu~YQ~rIOM0CTDqLh0yzrI~HjwOdCvwhXaV7yNhgDD8AyD9cqmDi6-9YTH9pzXXaao64t8ZyYVSNF2PfOu9xpEbyjCPdF-a3CsNwsijA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Senate on Feb. 19 passed the committee substitute to Senate Bill 9, 28–2, after floor debate and adoption of two floor amendments. The bill, as amended, makes multiple changes to pretrial procedures, reporting systems and who may set initial bonds in certain serious cases.

Senator Huffman, the bill’s author, said the measure builds on SB 6 (2021) and aims to give judges and prosecutors better information to protect public safety. \"We found out when we started digging into this that our different systems were not talking to each other,\" Huffman said, describing efforts to add data to the state Public Safety Report System and to allow the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to modernize reporting.

Key provisions included in the committee substitute as discussed on the floor:
- Require written, on-the-record findings when a hearing officer determines no probable cause exists, to make the decision trackable.
- Add new fields and data-sharing to the Public Safety Report System and direct sheriffs to help transmit release conditions to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
- Require that the presiding elected judge (rather than a hearing officer) set the initial bond for defendants on parole, defendants with two or more prior felony convictions, certain violent charge categories (for example murder and aggravated assault), and defendants held with a concurrent immigration hold.
- Add offenses to the statutory list that bars release on personal bond, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and certain family-violence and fentanyl-related offenses.
- Increase reporting transparency for charitable bail organizations and impose timing/notification requirements when a defendant charged in one county allegedly commits a new offense in another county.

Senators questioned implementation and cost. Senator West asked whether counties would incur expenses to connect local jail and court systems; Huffman said he is working with OCA and seeks state funding to minimize local costs. Senator Menendez asked about adding \"terroristic threat\" to the list of offenses that may preclude a personal bond; Huffman said the judge retains discretion and the addition reflected requests from prosecutors and victims’ groups.

The Senate adopted floor amendments to direct sheriffs to transmit certain data and to clarify that a judge may reassess bond after indictment even if a defendant was previously released when an indictment arrived after a statutory deadline. The committee substitute passed to engrossment and the Senate suspended the three-day constitutional rule before final passage. The final tally on third reading was 28 ayes and 2 nays.","The Texas Senate passed the committee substitute to Senate Bill 9 on Feb. 19 by a 28–2 vote. The measure adds reporting requirements, directs more cases to elected judges, expands the list of offenses not eligible for personal bonds, and increases transparency for charitable bail organizations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322549,"Senate approves measure to deny bail for illegal aliens charged with felonies",734,4786000,5520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc&start=4786&end=5520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347292-e7a33b5116bdb8efe6cca4efc3d6c0bc/thumbnail_4786000.jpg","/articles/6322549/Texas/Senate-approves-measure-to-deny-bail-for-illegal-aliens-charged-with-felonies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322549-5d02d1e55e349955ad4dc15dd4ad4d40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170772&Signature=UUMwEBF6lmc5dPecRy5Ig47bDpjR6dmLiX6fGuFZ02geabH6xYGKJsq7DcjSXaoi30sloxLHLAiN-Ubkj2bZFAVEykdUM2YtaOYZ8BZFgb46hj-XCTZmRirSGt80GCtUJIVLyCh4ndscw33k93jaYYnGEheutnFhm59kLCw5os2wmm-OjkECXzNqi-lhJRDwvpVrC1-MVXgcq4JexHDtXHap8JsEav~Q9-MUAHBOWvB3vfQVuwmtSMtsD~smVqv8NQH07sldfHun~jNrmNNEUM42pTLphrqIgxRt9MHiaiF7ZCTLM-JVlCvdjz05kE47d~L5MVZo1kVhGRx-G2C8WA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Senate on Feb. 19 passed the committee substitute to Senate Joint Resolution 1, proposing a constitutional amendment that would require denial of bail for an illegal alien accused of an offense punishable as a felony upon a finding of probable cause. The Senate recorded a final vote of 29 ayes and 2 nays.

The resolution’s author, Senator Huffman, told colleagues the measure is intended to backstop federal efforts and to respond to recent violent crimes by noncitizens. He cited a recent homicide in Houston and said federal and state mechanisms have not prevented some accused violent offenders from being released on bond. \"Members, it is undeniable that our state has experienced a significant increase in illegal immigration in recent years,\" Huffman said during floor debate.

Supporters told the Senate the proposed change would require a magistrate or judge, upon finding probable cause that a felony occurred and that the defendant is an illegal alien (language the sponsor said aligns with the federal definition used for undocumented criminal aliens), to deny bail. In floor colloquy senators discussed the evidentiary standard: a judge must determine probable cause before denying bond, and advocates argued that identification and access to federal immigration information (for example through 287(g) authorities) would assist courts in making that determination.

Opponents urged caution about breadth and potential constitutional questions. Senator Johnson said the measure \"is a very broad bill\" and warned it could face constitutional challenges, urging colleagues and the House to consider narrowing language during conference work.

The committee substitute was advanced through suspension of rules and a suspension of the three-day constitutional rule before final passage. Following the vote Senator Huffman said, \"Jocelyn's family thanks you,\" referencing testimony and victim advocates who appeared in committee.

The Senate passage completes its action in that chamber; proponents said they view the change as a measure to increase public safety by restricting pretrial release in the subset of cases described.

Votes at a glance: committee substitute to SJR 1 — final passage: 29 ayes, 2 nays.","The Texas Senate on Feb. 19 passed a committee substitute to Senate Joint Resolution 1 that would amend the state constitution to require denial of bail for an illegal alien accused of a felony upon a judge finding probable cause; the vote was 29-2 in favor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate bars political subdivisions from using public funds to pay nonprofits that post bail

Senate passes bill to expand bail reporting, clarify magistrate duties and restrict some personal bonds

Senate approves measure to deny bail for illegal aliens charged with felonies