HB 1650
AN ACT relating to a special bill of review to reform a final judgment of
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 bail bond sureties (insurance companies or bondsmen) to file a special bill of review up to four years after a bond forfeiture judgment, requesting the court to potentially reduce or remit part of the forfeited bond amount. The court can grant or deny the request based on equitable grounds, considering factors like court costs, county return expenses, and accrued interest. The law applies only to bail bond forfeitures entered on or after September 1, 2025, giving bail bond companies more flexibility in challenging full bond forfeitures.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to a special bill of review to reform a final judgment of BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 22.17(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is (a) Not later than the fourth anniversary of [two years after] the date a final judgment is entered in a bond forfeiture proceeding, the surety on the bond may file with the court a special bill of review. A special bill of review may include a request, on equitable grounds, that the final judgment be reformed and that all or part of the bond amount be remitted to the surety, after deducting the costs of court, any reasonable costs to the county for the return of the principal, and the interest accrued on the bond amount from the date of forfeiture. The court in its discretion may grant or deny the bill in whole or in part. SECTION 2. Article 22.17(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this Act, applies only to a bail bond for which a final judgment of forfeiture is entered on or after the effective date of this Act. A bail bond for which a final judgment of forfeiture is entered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the judgment was entered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to a special bill of review to reform a final judgment of
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