HB 246 | SB 294
This bill repeals the use of the death penalty in Texas while still allowing life without parole.
HB 256
This bill allows for parole after serving 20 actual calendar years for offenders who were under 18 at the time of their offense if they pass a comprehensive mental health evaluation.
HB 336 | HB 64 | HB 1537
This bill repeals the use of the death penalty in Texas while still allowing life without parole.
HB 344
This bill would raise the age of adult criminal responsibility from 17 to 18 years old.
HB 465
Under current law, low-income people who cannot afford to pay citations may lose their driver’s license and eventually receive jail time, causing them to lose jobs and housing, thereby driving them deeper into poverty.
HB 472
This bill eliminates the law of parties for capital murder so that an one individual in a group of offenders cannot be charged with murder committed by another member of the group.
HB 573 | HB 152
Currently, Texas law allows a person who committed a federal felony to apply to the governor for the restoration of civil rights after they serve their sentence. This bill would allow a person convicted of no more than one state felony to apply to the governor for a restoration of their civil rights, including the ability to serve in public office, on a jury, and as an estate's executor.
HB 601
This bill increases the accuracy of information collected about mentally ill persons who are accused of a crime. This will allow courts to make more informed decisions about release on personal bond and the recommended services provided to the person after such release.
HB 650
This bill establishes excellent rehabilitative care for incarcerated mothers by, among other things: providing parenting classes, prohibiting restraint while pregnant, allowing postpartum contact between a mother and her infant, and facilitating twice-weekly visits between a mother and her children. Care is subject to maintaining security.
HB 788
This bill would result in the publication of a study on Texas' use of parole.
HB 874 | SB 182
This bill prevents criminal changes or threats of criminal charges for payday or auto-title loan defaults.
HB 918 | SB 461
This bill would require Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide an inmate who is released from prison with documents that would help the former inmate obtain employment, such as personal ID, a Social Security card, or a resume showing proficiency in a trade.
HB 1030
This bill would allow a judge to explain to a capital sentencing jury that unanimity is required and that every juror - acting alone - has the power to sentence a capital offender to life without parole rather than death.
HB 1153
Texas requires occupational licenses for more than 25 percent of professions, which creates especially difficult barriers to employment for the 40 percent of Texans who have an arrest or conviction record. This bill clarifies the licensing process and ensures that Texans with non-violent convictions have an opportunity to earn a professional license.
HB 1202
This bill prevents theft of service criminal changes for rent-to-own agreements.
HB 1323 | SB 628
Under current law, when a person is arrested he may be held in prison until his trial if he does not pay bail, and the amount of bail does not depend upon the arrested person's danger to society. As a result, many poor defendants who cannot afford bail are incarcerated before they ever receive a trial. This bill reforms the bail system to ensure the amount of bail depends on whether an arrested person is dangerous to the community or a flight risk.
HB 1342 | SB 523
Texas requires occupational licenses for more than 25 percent of professions, which creates especially difficult barriers to employment for the 40 percent of Texans who have an arrest or conviction record. Under this bill, a person may be disqualified from licensure only if they’ve been convicted of a violent offence or an offense that directly relates to the duties of the licensed occupation (e.g. theft & a locksmith license).
HB 1372
Under current law, low-income people who cannot afford to pay citations may lose their driver’s license and eventually receive jail time, causing them to lose jobs and housing, thereby driving them deeper into poverty. This bill reforms laws about suspension and revocation of a driver's license so that indigent offenders have a path to keep or earn back their license.
HB 1389
This bill would allow courts to provide deferred adjudication to parents who are the primary caretaker of children, and counseling, therapy, education, and parenting classes may be required as a condition of deferment.
HB 1651
This bill requires the Commission on Jail Standards to adopt rules governing the restraint of inmates who are pregnant or have given birth within the previous 12 weeks, and requires annual reports on the use of restraints.
HB 1653
This bill would provide grant funding to non-profits that partner with the state to offer reentry & reintegration programs to defendants released from a state jail. It would also provide formula funding for county’s' pretrial diversion programs that help minimize pretrial detention for defendants charged with a state jail felony.
HB 1753
Under current law, an offender on parole may be released early if their time in prison plus their time on probation equals half of their original sentence in prison. Under this bill, offenders would also be eligible for early release if they complete 10 years on probation. In either case, the person must: have no parole violations in the past 2 years, not had their parole revoked, and have made a good faith effort to comply with all court-ordered restitution efforts.
HB 1787
Under current law, theft of property worth up to $2,500 is a State Jail Felony if a person has been convicted of theft twice in the past. Under this bill, theft of property worth less than $100 is a Class A misdemeanor if a person has been convicted of theft twice in the past.
HB 1797
This bill prevents theft of service criminal changes for rent-to-own agreements.
HB 1911
This will would require the Texas Workforce Commission to establish and administer a low-interest loan program to support entrepreneurship among persons with disabilities. This bill allows the TWC to accept public and private gifts, grants, and donations for the program.
HB 1936
This bill prohibits the use of the death penalty on people who were severely mentally ill at the time of their crime.
SB 105 | SB 1155
This bill establishes a state-county partnership program to provide mental health services to people in Bexar County.
SB 155
This bill allows for parole after serving 20 actual calendar years for offenders who were under 18 at the time of their offense if they pass a comprehensive mental health evaluation.
SB 182 | HB 874
This bill prevents criminal changes or threats of criminal charges for payday or auto-title loan defaults.
SB 183 | HB 836
This bill prevents theft of service criminal changes for rent-to-own agreements.
SB 294 | HB 246
This bill repeals the use of the death penalty in Texas while still allowing life without parole. The TCCB supports this bill to end the use of the death penalty.
SB 362
This bill allows the courts to release an offender who has charges pending and is not deemed to be a danger to others to be released on bail and receive court ordered mental health services.
SB 418 | HB 1139
This bill prohibits the use of the death penalty on people who have an intellectual disability.
SB 461 | HB 918
This bill would require Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide an inmate who is released from prison with documents that would help the former inmate obtain employment, such as personal ID, a Social Security card, or a resume showing proficiency in a trade.
SB 488
This bill ensures that juvenile defendants are allowed to wear non-correctional clothes during trial and are not restrained unless they pose a safety or flight risk. The bill also provides training on childhood trauma to judges who hear cases involving children in foster care or the juvenile justice system.
SB 495
This bill establishes a mediation process for all juvenile defendants and for adult defendants who have no prior convictions and are charged with crimes against property, such as robbery, theft, or fraud. With the consent of victims and prosecuting attorneys, eligible defendants may enter mediation in which they apologize and pay restitution to the victim as well as perform community service. Adult defendants who successfully complete mediation may have charges dismissed; juveniles may have their records sealed.
SB 523 | HB 1342
Texas requires occupational licenses for more than 25 percent of professions, which creates especially difficult barriers to employment for the 40 percent of Texans who have an arrest or conviction record. Under this bill, a person may be disqualified from licensure only if they’ve been convicted of a violent offence or an offense that directly relates to the duties of the licensed occupation (e.g. theft & a locksmith license).
SB 593
This bill requires the state to adopt procedures for local mental health authorities to receive information necessary for prisoners to receive services.
SB 628 | HB 1323
Under current law, when a person is arrested they may be held in prison until their trial if they do not pay bail, and the amount of bail does not depend upon the arrested person's danger to society. As a result, many poor defendants who cannot afford bail are incarcerated before they ever receive a trial. This bill reforms the bail system to ensure that the amount of bail depends on whether an arrested person is dangerous to the community or a flight risk.
SB 716 | HB 3054 | SB 1616
This bill removes directives that require judges and attorneys to lie to jurors about the level of unanimity required for a death sentence.
SB 929
This bill eliminates the law of parties for capital murder so that one individual in a group of offenders cannot be charged with murder committed by another member of the group.