Relating to state, local, and court involvement in determining whether victims and witnesses to an offense and certain detained, arrested, or incarcerated persons are lawfully present in the United States.

HB 2837 repeals nine existing Texas laws that required courts, law enforcement, and prosecutors to verify the immigration status of victims, witnesses, and certain detained or incarcerated individuals in criminal cases. Specifically, it removes provisions like Article 17.16(a-1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Section 402.0241 of the Government Code. The bill eliminates the requirement for courts to determine whether these individuals are "lawfully present" in the U.S. before proceeding with legal matters. This change directly affects victims, witnesses, and detained persons involved in Texas criminal proceedings by removing a specific immigration verification step. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate effect by a two-thirds vote.