BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 594

By: Cortez

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that there have been staffing challenges for sheriff’s departments in counties with populations between 2 million and 3.3 million that have been highlighted by constituents, law enforcement agencies, and local leaders. The bill author has also informed the committee that rapid population growth in these counties has led to increased demands on law enforcement services, particularly in unincorporated areas of the counties, and that county civil service systems can limit the flexibility of sheriffs to appoint individuals to key leadership and specialized roles. Furthermore, the bill author has informed the committee that increasing the number of positions in a sheriff's department that a sheriff may designate as exempt from a county civil service system is necessary to address these challenges and ensure public safety. H.B. 594 seeks to grant sheriffs additional flexibility and improve the ability of sheriffs to effectively respond to staffing shortages, manage departmental operations, and meet the growing demands of rapidly expanding populations by increasing from 10 to 18 the number of civil service exempt positions sheriffs in counties with populations between 2 million and 3.3 million can designate in the sheriff's department.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 594 amends the Local Government Code to increase from 10 to 18 the maximum number of positions in the sheriff's department of a county with a population of more than 2 million and not more than 3.3 million that the sheriff may designate as exempt from the department's civil service system.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.