BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2217
89R9167 JCG-F	By: Wharton et al. (Hagenbuch)
	Criminal Justice
	5/27/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The 87th Texas Legislature passed S.B. 2222 and appropriated funds to equip all Texas Department of Safety Highway Patrol vehicles with lifesaving, bullet resistant glass and front door panels for increased officer safety. This was done in response to the shooting of two troopers in 2021. Texas has seen a rise in violence against law enforcement with 13 officers shot through the glass of their patrol vehicle since 2013. Five of those officers were killed in the line of duty. Since 2022, over 65 law enforcement departments in Texas have either ordered the same bullet resistant glass or are looking for funding options to obtain the glass and door panels.

This issue was brought to our attention by Operation Safe Shield, a 501c3 nonprofit that was founded in the Fall of 2021 to equip local law enforcement vehicles across the seven counties of the Brazos Valley. As of 2024, 140 patrol vehicles have been equipped with bullet-resistant components by Operation Safe Shield funded through private donations. The citizens of these counties have identified officer safety as a priority.

Across the State of Texas, approximately 5,100 vehicles have been equipped with bullet-resistant glass with negotiations and orders for an additional 1,100 vehicles. This technology is lifesaving for peace officers who are shot at in the line of duty, but most local law enforcement departments do not have the surplus funds available to outfit their vehicles.

This bill would resolve this issue by establishing a grant program to equip local law enforcement vehicles with bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, and door panels. The legislation aims to enhance officer safety and reduce fatalities caused by gunfire through patrol vehicle windows.

Once established, eligible local law enforcement would be able to apply to the grant program to receive funding to outfit their vehicles with bullet resistant components including windshields, side windows, and side doors. The grant program would be run through the Public Safety Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office.

H.B. 2217 amends current law relating to establishing a grant program to equip motor vehicles used by peace officers with certain bullet-resistant components.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 722, Government Code, by adding Section 772.013, as follows:

Sec. 772.013. GRANT PROGRAM TO EQUIP VEHICLES USED BY PEACE OFFICERS WITH BULLET-RESISTANT COMPONENTS. (a) Defines "criminal justice division," "law enforcement agency," and "peace officer."

(b) Requires the governor's criminal justice division (criminal justice division) to establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law enforcement agency to purchase and install motor vehicles used by peace officers of the law enforcement agency in discharging the officers' official duties with bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, and door panels.

(d) Requires a law enforcement agency receiving a grant under this section, as soon as practicable after spending the grant money, to provide to the criminal justice division proof of purchase and installation, as applicable, of bullet-resistant windshields, side windows, rear windows, or door panels.

(e) Authorizes the criminal justice division to use any available money to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.