Texas 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Status: Enacted

HB 26 — Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties.

Last action — Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced August 18, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) on September 17, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 64% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 21 sponsors

    6 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    2 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

17 added · 4 removed

17 line(s) added, 4 removed.

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Latest
By:AAOliverson, Schofield, DeAyala, Harless, H.B.ANo.A26 AAAAAHull, et al.
H.B.ANo.A26 AN ACT relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
(d) AAThe commissioners court of the sheriff’s county may not 89S20814 MP-F 1 H.B.ANo.A26 prohibit or otherwise restrict the sheriff from entering into a contract under this section.
(d) AAThe commissioners court of the sheriff’s county may not H.B.ANo.A26 prohibit or otherwise restrict the sheriff from entering into a contract under this section.
H.B.ANo.A26 ______________________________ ______________________________ AAAAPresident of the Senate Speaker of the HouseAAAAAA I certify that H.B.
No.
26 was passed by the House on August 27, 2025, by the following vote:
AAYeas 88, Nays 49, 1 present, not voting.
______________________________ Chief Clerk of the HouseAAA I certify that H.B.
No.
26 was passed by the Senate on August 27, 2025, by the following vote:AAYeas 21, Nays 5.
______________________________ Secretary of the SenateAAAA APPROVED:AA_____________________ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADateAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA_____________________ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGovernorAAAAAAA 4
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How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Texas statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 5 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 85.025, Local Government Code, Section 86.026, Local Government Code, Section 120.002, Local Government Code, Section 120.006(a), Local Government Code, Section 130.903.

  • Section 85.025, Local Government Code

    Sec. 85.025. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section: (1) "Local government" means a county, municipality, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, or other political subdivision of this state. (2) "Property owners' association" has the meaning assigned by Section 202.001, Property Code. (b) This section applies only to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million. (c) A sheriff may enter into a contract with a local government, a property owners' association, or an owner of land to provide law enforcement services in the sheriff's county: (1) in and near the area managed or regulated by the local government or the association or the area owned by the owner; and (2) to the persons residing in or visiting an area described by Subdivision (1). (d) The commissioners court of the sheriff's county may not prohibit or otherwise restrict the sheriff from entering into a contract under this section. The sheriff may enter into the contract and determine the terms of the contract, regardless of whether the commissioners court approves of the contract or the terms.

    added

  • Section 86.026, Local Government Code

    Sec. 86.026. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section: (1) "Local government" means a county, municipality, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, or other political subdivision of this state. (2) "Property owners' association" has the meaning assigned by Section 202.001, Property Code. (b) This section applies only to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million. (c) A constable may enter into a contract with a local government, a property owners' association, or an owner of land to provide law enforcement services in the constable's precinct: (1) in and near the area managed or regulated by the local government or the association or the area owned by the owner; and (2) to the persons residing in or visiting an area described by Subdivision (1). (d) The commissioners court of a constable's county may not prohibit or otherwise restrict the constable from entering into a contract under this section. The constable may enter into the contract and determine the terms of the contract, regardless of whether the commissioners court approves of the contract or the terms.

    added

  • Section 120.002, Local Government Code

    (a-1) This subsection applies only to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million. A county shall hold an election in accordance with this chapter if the county adopts a budget or changes an adopted budget resulting in a budget for a fiscal year that, compared to the budget adopted by the county for the preceding fiscal year: (1) has an effect described by Subsection (a); (2) reallocates unspent funding that was appropriated to a law enforcement agency; or (3) reallocates funding previously appropriated for a specific law enforcement position to another agency. or (a-1)

    amended

  • Section 120.006(a), Local Government Code

    or (a-1)

    amended

  • or (a-1) or (a-1) or (a-1)

    amended

  • Section 130.903

    Sec. 130.903. REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS RELATED TO COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million. (b) A county may not: (1) transfer money appropriated to the office of sheriff or constable to the county's general revenue fund or any other county account; or (2) prohibit the office of sheriff or constable from spending money appropriated to the office for any lawful purpose. (c) In relation to money received under a contract entered into under Section 85.025 or 86.026, the commissioners court of the sheriff's or constable's county: (1) shall credit the money to the office of the sheriff or constable, as applicable, and may not credit the money to the county's general revenue fund; and (2) may not reduce the appropriation to the office of the sheriff or constable, as applicable, by the amount of the money received because the money is considered for purposes of Section 120.002 as part of the office's appropriation for the county fiscal year in which the money is received. (d) The county may not prohibit or otherwise restrict the use of the money described by Subsection (b) by the sheriff or constable, as applicable, for a lawful purpose, if the county auditor or county treasurer determines that the money is available to the office of the sheriff or constable, as applicable.

    added

Action History

  1. Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  2. Signed by the Governor

  3. Sent to the Governor

  4. Signed in the Senate

  5. Signed in the House

  6. Reported enrolled

  7. Senate passage reported

  8. Record vote

  9. Passed

  10. Read 3rd time

  11. Record vote

  12. Three day rule suspended

  13. Record vote

  14. Passed to 3rd reading

  15. Record vote

  16. Amendment fails of adoption

  17. Amendment(s) offered

  18. Read 2nd time

  19. Record vote

  20. Rules suspended-Regular order of business

  21. Co-sponsor authorized

  22. Ordered not printed

  23. Printing rule suspended

  24. Reported favorably w/o amendments

  25. Vote taken in committee

  26. Considered in public hearing

  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .

  28. Posting rule suspended

  29. Referred to Finance

  30. Read first time

  31. Received from the House

  32. Reported engrossed

  33. Reason for vote recorded in Journal

  34. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  35. Record vote

  36. Passed

  37. Read 3rd time

  38. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  39. Record vote

  40. Passed to engrossment

  41. Read 2nd time

  42. Placed on General State Calendar

  43. Considered in Calendars

  44. Committee report sent to Calendars

  45. Committee report distributed

  46. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator

  47. Reported favorably as substituted

  48. Committee substitute considered in committee

  49. Vote reconsidered in committee

  50. Considered in formal meeting

  51. Reported favorably as substituted

  52. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

  53. Committee substitute considered in committee

  54. Considered in public hearing

  55. Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs

  56. Read first time

  57. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 163 not signed on · 21 voted No

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (163)

163 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 163 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

passage

Passed 21 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21504
Total 21504
% of votes cast 70%17%0%13%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Adam Hinojosa — Yea
Angela Paxton — Yea
Bob Hall — Yea
Borris Miles — Not Voting
Brandon Creighton — Yea
Brent Hagenbuch — Yea
Brian Birdwell — Yea
Bryan Hughes — Yea
Carol Alvarado — Nay
Charles Perry — Yea
Charles Schwertner — Yea
César Blanco — Yea
Donna Campbell — Yea
Joan Huffman — Yea
José Menéndez — Not Voting
Juan Hinojosa — Yea
Judith Zaffirini — Nay
Kevin Sparks — Yea
Lois Kolkhorst — Yea
Mayes Middleton — Yea
Molly Cook — Nay
Nathan Johnson — Nay
Paul Bettencourt — Yea
Pete Flores — Yea
Phil King — Yea
Robert Nichols — Yea
Roland Gutierrez — Nay
Royce West — Not Voting
Sarah Eckhardt — Not Voting
Tan Parker — Yea

Official roll call →

Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 26 be placed on its third reading and final passage.

Passed 21 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21504
Total 21504
% of votes cast 70%17%0%13%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Adam Hinojosa — Yea
Angela Paxton — Yea
Bob Hall — Yea
Borris Miles — Not Voting
Brandon Creighton — Yea
Brent Hagenbuch — Yea
Brian Birdwell — Yea
Bryan Hughes — Yea
Carol Alvarado — Nay
Charles Perry — Yea
Charles Schwertner — Yea
César Blanco — Yea
Donna Campbell — Yea
Joan Huffman — Yea
José Menéndez — Not Voting
Juan Hinojosa — Yea
Judith Zaffirini — Nay
Kevin Sparks — Yea
Lois Kolkhorst — Yea
Mayes Middleton — Yea
Molly Cook — Nay
Nathan Johnson — Nay
Paul Bettencourt — Yea
Pete Flores — Yea
Phil King — Yea
Robert Nichols — Yea
Roland Gutierrez — Nay
Royce West — Not Voting
Sarah Eckhardt — Not Voting
Tan Parker — Yea

Official roll call →

other

Failed 7 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 71904
Total 71904
% of votes cast 23%63%0%13%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Adam Hinojosa — Nay
Angela Paxton — Nay
Bob Hall — Nay
Borris Miles — Not Voting
Brandon Creighton — Nay
Brent Hagenbuch — Nay
Brian Birdwell — Nay
Bryan Hughes — Nay
Carol Alvarado — Yea
Charles Perry — Nay
Charles Schwertner — Nay
César Blanco — Yea
Donna Campbell — Nay
Joan Huffman — Nay
José Menéndez — Not Voting
Juan Hinojosa — Yea
Judith Zaffirini — Yea
Kevin Sparks — Nay
Lois Kolkhorst — Nay
Mayes Middleton — Nay
Molly Cook — Yea
Nathan Johnson — Yea
Paul Bettencourt — Nay
Pete Flores — Nay
Phil King — Nay
Robert Nichols — Nay
Roland Gutierrez — Yea
Royce West — Not Voting
Sarah Eckhardt — Not Voting
Tan Parker — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety finance labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 26?
HB 26 is sponsored by Leo Wilson, Mayes Middleton, Joan Huffman, Paul Bettencourt, Trey Wharton, Steve Toth, Valoree Swanson, Dennis Paul, Will Metcalf, Janie Lopez, Cody Harris, Jay Dean, Charles Cunningham, Briscoe Cain, Cecil Bell, Lacey Hull, Sam Harless, Mano DeAyala, Mike Schofield, Tom Oliverson, and David Cook.
What is the current status of HB 26?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced August 18, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 26?
Track HB 26 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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