HB 1801

AN ACT relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes

House Bill Bhojani
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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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.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes