HB 1801
AN ACT relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes
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
Expands the definition of "authorized peace officer" to include a wide range of law enforcement professionals, such as sheriffs, constables, marshals, rangers, investigators from prosecutors' offices, state law enforcement agents, and officers from various state departments and agencies. The expanded definition covers personnel from entities like the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and others, including school district and university police officers. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and provides clarity on who qualifies as an authorized peace officer for legal purposes related to tracking equipment and communications access.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 18B.001(1), Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by Chapters 901 (H.B. 4906) and 950 (S.B. 1727), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and (1) "Authorized peace officer" means: (A) a sheriff or deputy sheriff; (B) a constable or deputy constable; (C) a marshal or police officer of a (D) a ranger or officer commissioned by the Public Safety Commission or the director of the department; (E) an investigator of a prosecutor's office; (F) a law enforcement agent of the Texas (G) a law enforcement officer commissioned by the (H) an enforcement officer appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, Government Code; (I) a law enforcement officer appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department under Section 242.102, Human Resources Code; (J) an investigator commissioned by the attorney general under Section 402.009, Government Code; (K) a member of an arson investigating unit commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state; (L) [or (K)] a peace officer commissioned under Section 37.081 or 51.203, Education Code; or (M) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code. SECTION 2. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted 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 Law Enforcement and related subject areas.
Beverly C. Cornwell
PremiumKy Ash
Andria Baum
Galt Graydon
Christopher Hughes
Bill Jones
Jarod Alan Love
David Doran Parker
Shannon Ghangurde
Ashley Michelle Juergens
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes
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