88R955 ADM-D
 
  By: West S.B. No. 140
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the issuance of a warrant authorizing the use of a
  no-knock entry by a peace officer.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 15, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 15.251 to read as follows:
         Art. 15.251.  NO-KNOCK WARRANT. (a) In this article,
  "no-knock entry" means a peace officer's entry, for the purpose of
  executing a warrant, into a building or other place without giving
  notice of the officer's authority or purpose before entering.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a magistrate may
  not issue a warrant under this chapter that authorizes a no-knock
  entry.
         (c)  A magistrate listed in Subsection (d) may issue a
  warrant under this chapter that authorizes a no-knock entry only
  if:
               (1)  the complaint is submitted concurrently with a
  statement that approves the use of a no-knock entry and that is
  signed by the chief administrator of the law enforcement agency
  employing the affiant or by the chief administrator's designee; and
               (2)  the warrant requires that each peace officer
  executing the warrant be in uniform or otherwise clearly
  identifiable as a peace officer.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other law, only the following
  magistrates may issue a warrant under this chapter that authorizes
  a no-knock entry:
               (1)  a district court judge;
               (2)  a statutory county court judge;
               (3)  a judge of a county court who is an attorney
  licensed by this state;
               (4)  a judge of a municipal court of record who is an
  attorney licensed by this state; or
               (5)  any magistrate if the county in which the warrant
  is issued does not have:
                     (A)  a municipal court of record with a courtroom
  located in that county and a judge who is an attorney licensed by
  this state;
                     (B)  a county court judge who is an attorney
  licensed by this state; or
                     (C)  a statutory county court judge.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 18, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 18.025 to read as follows:
         Art. 18.025.  NO-KNOCK WARRANT. (a) In this
  article, "no-knock entry" has the meaning assigned by Article
  15.251.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a magistrate may
  not issue a warrant under this chapter that authorizes a no-knock
  entry.
         (c)  A magistrate listed in Subsection (d) may issue a
  warrant under this chapter that authorizes a no-knock entry only
  if:
               (1)  the affidavit under Article 18.01(b) is submitted
  concurrently with a statement that approves the use of a no-knock
  entry and that is signed by the chief administrator of the law
  enforcement agency employing the affiant or by the chief
  administrator's designee; and
               (2)  the warrant requires that each peace officer
  executing the warrant be in uniform or otherwise clearly
  identifiable as a peace officer.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other law, only the following
  magistrates may issue a warrant under this chapter that authorizes
  a no-knock entry:
               (1)  a district court judge;
               (2)  a statutory county court judge;
               (3)  a judge of a county court who is an attorney
  licensed by this state;
               (4)  a judge of a municipal court of record who is an
  attorney licensed by this state; or
               (5)  any magistrate if the county in which the warrant
  is issued does not have:
                     (A)  a municipal court of record with a courtroom
  located in that county and a judge who is an attorney licensed by
  this state;
                     (B)  a county court judge who is an attorney
  licensed by this state; or
                     (C)  a statutory county court judge.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a warrant issued on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  warrant issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect on the date the warrant was issued, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.