MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

8:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice was held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Pete Flores, Chair

 

None

Senator Tan Parker, Vice Chair

 

 

Senator Brent Hagenbuch

 

 

Senator Juan Hinojosa

 

 

Senator Joan Huffman

 

 

Senator Phil King

 

 

Senator Borris Miles

 

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:01 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Huffman, Senator Miles, and Senator King.

 

The chair laid out SB 1320 and recognized the author, Senator Sparks, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Parker moved that SB 1320 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 826 and recognized the author, Senator Parker, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 826 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1171 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Flores moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Huffman moved that SB 1171 do not pass but that CSSB 1171 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1727 and recognized the author, Senator Perry, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Perry to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Flores moved that the committee substitute be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 1727 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1080 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator West to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Flores moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 1080 do not pass but that CSSB 1080 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 476 and recognized the author, Senator Middleton, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 476 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2289 and recognized the author, Senator Miles, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 2289 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 745 and recognized the author, Senator Kolkhorst, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 745 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 2320 and recognized the author, Senator King, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 2320 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 989 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 989 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Huffman moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 1437 and recognized the author, Senator Bettencourt, to explain the bill.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 1437 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator King moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 664 and recognized the author, Senator Huffman, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Huffman to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Flores moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 664 do not pass but that CSSB 664 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

At 10:00 AM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out SB 1809 and recognized the author, Senator Flores, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Flores sent up a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Flores to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Huffman moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Flores moved that SB 1809 do not pass but that CSSB 1809 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Flores moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:08 AM Senator Flores resumed the chair.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1637.

 

Senator King moved to reconsider the vote by which the first committee substitute for SB 1637 was adopted at the March 25th 2025 hearing; without objection, so it was ordered

 

Senator King moved to withdraw from consideration the previous committee substitute considered at the March 25th, 2025 hearing; without objection, so it was ordered. 

 

Senator King sent up a new committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator King to explain the difference between the new committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator King moved the adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator King moved that SB 1637 do not pass but that CSSB 1637 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Huffman moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 10:14 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Pete Flores, Chair

 

 

__________________________________________

Haylee Plumley, Clerk