Relating to the landowner compensation program.
SB 2601 creates a state program to compensate agricultural landowners and lessees for property damage caused by border-related criminal activities. It defines "border crime" as specific offenses involving transnational criminal activity (like drug trafficking or illegal border crossings) under Texas law. The attorney general will administer compensation for physical damage, debris, pollutants, or soil contamination, including costs to restore agricultural use. Insurance companies cannot factor such claims into rate-setting for policies delivered or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The law takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 13, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
7 edits
·
Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill establishes a state program to compensate landowners and lessees for property damage caused by trespassers involved in border crimes or transnational criminal activity. The enrolled version clarifies the program's funding sources, eligibility requirements, compensation limits, and confidentiality protections for victims. Key changes include adding specific funding sources, setting maximum compensation amounts, and updating references to ensure the program operates as intended.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on landowner compensation for border-related property damage, but the enrolled version clarifies applicability to both landowners and lessees and adds specific requirements for lessee compensation authorization.
FISCAL
Added specific funding sources including money appropriated by legislature and federal grants/reimbursements for the program.
REQUIREMENT
Added detailed requirements for the attorney general to establish eligibility criteria, application procedures, evaluation criteria, compensation guidelines, and monitoring procedures.
Modified compensation limits to maximum of $75,000 per incident with $10,000 cap for livestock/timber/crops damage.
Added requirement for lessees to provide notarized landowner authorization before receiving compensation.
DEFINITION
Modified definition of damage to include debris, pollutants, and contaminants left on land, with compensation for cleanup costs.
TIMELINE
Added effective date of September 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026 for insurance policy application.
ENFORCEMENT
Added confidentiality provisions for victim information and public access election for government employee victims.
Floor votes · House May 22, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
74
Key actions
21
Committee
16
Amendments
2
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
Jun 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
House adopts conference committee report
lower
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate adopts conference committee report
upper
May 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House grants request for conference committee
lower
May 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate requests conference committee-reported
lower
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate requests conference committee
upper
May 26, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 22, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (139-0-4)
house
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Border Security
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 5 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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