BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2581
89R18928 JBD-D	By: Hancock
	Criminal Justice
	4/11/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

As directed by Section 351.0415, Local Government Code, commissary accounts are used to fund various eligible projects, programs, or personal items for inmates. Sheriffs have discretion to use funds for these purposes. This statute also requires commissary accounts to be audited at least once per fiscal year, if the jail is under supervision of the sheriff. Commissioners courts are authorized to request more frequent audits, if desired.

In 2001, the legislature passed H.B. 1890, which created a population bracket to target control over the commissary account of one sheriff in Texas�Tarrant County. Since then, Dallas County has also been captured by the bracket language, due to population growth.

S.B. 2581 seeks to restore uniformity across Texas for sheriffs' oversight of commissary accounts by repealing the population bracket.

As proposed, S.B. 2581 amends current law relating to the repeal of a provision governing the operation of jail commissaries in certain counties.

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. Repealer: Section 351.04155 (Commissary Operation by Sheriff in Certain Counties), Local Government Code.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.