Criminal Justice (Victims' Rights)

HB 19 creates new criminal offenses for real estate theft and fraud, targeting individuals who unlawfully take or defraud others of land or buildings. The bill requires certain real estate documents to be recorded in public records to prevent fraud and create transparent ownership histories. It establishes a statute of limitations for these offenses, mandates restitution for victims, and outlines procedures for prosecution. This bill directly affects property owners, real estate professionals, and law enforcement by introducing new legal tools to address property-related fraud.

HB 163 allows victims of violent crimes (or their estates if the victim died) to sue judges or magistrates who improperly released defendants on personal bond for certain violent felony offenses. The bill creates a new legal cause of action if the release violated specific bond rules for violent offenses (defined under Texas law), with damages capped at $10 million. It explicitly removes judicial immunity as a defense in such cases and applies only to bond releases occurring after the bill's effective date. This policy change directly affects victims of violent crimes and judicial officers who grant bond in violation of the specified legal standards.