HB 1645
AN ACT relating to a private civil cause of action against local entities
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Allows individuals to sue local entities or campus police departments if they are injured or killed by a person unlawfully present in the United States, due to the entity's failure to comply with certain immigration-related laws. Plaintiffs must prove the local entity had a policy violating immigration regulations and that this policy directly enabled the crime to occur. The bill removes sovereign immunity for such cases, potentially exposing local governments and campus police to civil liability and damages, with the possibility of recovering legal costs.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to a private civil cause of action against local entities and campus police departments that violate certain laws related to BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 752, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 752.058 to read as follows: Sec. 752.058. PRIVATE CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION. (a) A person injured as a result of a crime committed by a person unlawfully present in the United States or the personal representative of a person killed as a result of a crime committed by a person unlawfully present in the United States may bring a civil action against a local entity or campus police department and may recover from the local entity or campus police department damages arising from the personal injury or death on proving: (1) the existence of a policy by the local entity or campus police department in violation of Section 752.053; and (2) a failure by the local entity or campus police department to comply with this subchapter that resulted in the unlawfully present person having access to the person injured or killed when the crime occurred. (b) Sovereign immunity of this state and governmental immunity of a local entity to suit and from liability is waived to the extent of liability created by this section. (c) The court in an action brought under this section may award reasonable costs and attorney's fees to the prevailing party. SECTION 2. Section 752.058, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Aliens and related subject areas.
Haley Cornyn
Gavin L. Massingill
Shera Eichler
Jennifer Shelley Rodriguez
Ky Ash
Nora Del Bosque
Craig Holzheauser
Jacob Smith
Elizabeth Hadley
Clayton Pope
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to a private civil cause of action against local entities
Related Guides
Learn more about tracking Texas legislation and working with lobbyists.
How to Read & Track Texas Bills
Master bill numbering, understand legislative language, and learn effective tracking strategies.
Understanding Texas Legislative Deadlines
Navigate the 140-day session with critical calendar dates and filing deadlines.
How Laws Get Made in Texas
Follow a bill's journey from filing to the governor's desk through committees and floor votes.
When Should Your Business Hire a Lobbyist?
Discover the signs that your business needs professional advocacy at the Texas Capitol.