Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
HB 26 allows sheriffs and constables in Texas counties with over 3.3 million residents (like Harris or Dallas) to directly contract with local governments, property owners' associations, or landowners to provide law enforcement services. The bill specifically permits these contracts for services in areas managed by those entities or owned by landowners, covering residents and visitors in those zones. Crucially, it prohibits county commissioners courts from blocking or restricting these contracts - sheriffs and constables can set contract terms without court approval. This changes how law enforcement services are funded and delivered in high-population counties by shifting decision-making authority from commissioners courts to law enforcement officials.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
House Passage
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Aug 2025
Signed into Law
Sep 2025
Introduced Aug 20, 2025
Signed Sep 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Sep 17, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted from a legislative draft to an enrolled version, adding official signatures and certification details while removing draft metadata. No substantive policy changes were made to the law itself.
TECHNICAL
Removed draft metadata including sponsor names and page numbers that were part of the original bill text.
Added official enrolled version headers, signatures from legislative officers, and certification of passage votes.
Reformatted text layout and spacing to match official enrolled bill standards.
Floor votes · Senate Aug 27, 2025 · House Aug 27, 2025
How they voted
22–7
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 33
Aug 27, 2025
D
Democratic12
50% Nay
R
Republican21
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
47
Key actions
14
Committee
10
Amendments
2
Sep 17, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Aug 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
Aug 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
Aug 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage reported
lower
Aug 27, 2025
Amended
Amendment fails of adoption
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to Finance
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Aug 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Aug 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Aug 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Aug 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Aug 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Aug 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Vote reconsidered in committee
lower
Aug 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Aug 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 15 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Lacey Hull
RRepublican
P
Mano DeAyala
RRepublican
P
Mike Schofield
RRepublican
P
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
P
Sam Harless
RRepublican
P
Tom Oliverson
RRepublican
Co
Briscoe Cain
RRepublican
Co
Cecil Bell
RRepublican
Co
Charles Cunningham
RRepublican
Co
Cody Harris
RRepublican
Co
David Cook
RRepublican
Co
Dennis Paul
RRepublican
Co
Janie Lopez
RRepublican
Co
Jay Dean
RRepublican
Co
Joan Huffman
RRepublican
Co
Mayes Middleton
RRepublican
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