"Repeat offenders must not be allowed to roam freely, continuing their crime sprees and wreaking havoc across our state."
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the bipartisan passage of the Texas Senate’s bail reform package, including Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, and Senate Joint Resolution 1, all by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:
“Across Texas, and specifically in Harris County, repeat and violent offenders, including those here illegally, are being released on personal recognizance or very low bail by judges and magistrates who disregard offenders’ violent history. This puts Texas communities and law enforcement at risk. Repeat offenders must not be allowed to roam freely, continuing their crime sprees and wreaking havoc across our state.
“The Texas Senate has heard the cries from Texans statewide whose lives have been uprooted by criminals out without bond or very low bond set by rogue judges or magistrates. The Senate has passed bail reform every session over the last 6 years. Every single bail reform bill has died in the Texas House. This is unacceptable.
“I met with the families of victims whose lives have been destroyed by criminals out on bond, and together we met with Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock. I believe I have a commitment from the Speaker that the Texas House will pass our bail reform package. This is a life-or-death issue, and failure to pass any bill or joint resolution in this package is unacceptable. I am eager to work with Speaker Burrows and the House to get these critical public safety reforms to Gov. Abbott’s desk as quickly as possible.
“The Texas Senate will pass this bail reform package over and over again until the Texas House passes it. As I stated last week, I am prepared to ask Gov. Abbott to call a special session if the House fails to pass bail reform in the regular session.
“I thank Sen. Joan Huffman for her continued commitment to bail reform and public safety and for doing a great job carrying these important bills and the joint resolution.”
“I met with the families of victims whose lives have been destroyed by criminals out on bond, and together we met with Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock. I believe I have a commitment from the Speaker that the Texas House will pass our bail reform package. This is a life-or-death issue, and failure to pass any bill or joint resolution in this package is unacceptable. I am eager to work with Speaker Burrows and the House to get these critical public safety reforms to Gov. Abbott’s desk as quickly as possible.
“The Texas Senate will pass this bail reform package over and over again until the Texas House passes it. As I stated last week, I am prepared to ask Gov. Abbott to call a special session if the House fails to pass bail reform in the regular session.
“I thank Sen. Joan Huffman for her continued commitment to bail reform and public safety and for doing a great job carrying these important bills and the joint resolution.”
Senate Bill 9, by Sen. Joan Huffman, shifts the authority to set initial bonds for specific high-risk defendants, including those on parole, repeat felony offenders, and those charged with violent crimes or detained under immigration holds, from hearing officers to a Presiding Judge that is accountable to voters. SB 9 expands the list of offenses ineligible for personal bond to include unlawful firearm possession, violation of family violence protective orders, terroristic threats, and murder related to fentanyl distribution. SB 9 increases transparency in charitable bail organizations’ reporting, prevents magistrates from altering bonds set by a district court, mandates a judicial appearance before setting felony bonds, and provides a new appeal process for prosecutors to challenge insufficient bail.
Senate Bill 40, by Sen. Joan Huffman, bans the use of taxpayer money by a political subdivision to fund nonprofit organizations that use public donations to pay bail bonds for defendants and allows taxpayers or residents to seek injunctive relief if this prohibition is violated.
SJR 1, by Sen. Joan Huffman, if approved by voters in the November 2025 constitutional amendment election, amends Article I, Section 11 of the Texas Constitution to require the denial of bail for an illegal alien who is accused of a felony offense upon finding of probable cause, assisting the federal government in implementing the recently signed Laken Riley Act.
