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HB 2242

AN ACT relating to policy-making authority of constables for the purpose

House Bill Dutton
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

Clarifies that constables are considered final policy makers for law enforcement decisions in their county specifically for federal civil rights legal actions under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983. The legislation establishes that in civil rights lawsuits, constables will be legally responsible for their own law enforcement policy decisions at the county level. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2025, and applies only to legal causes of action that arise on or after that date.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to policy-making authority of constables for the purpose
of a federal civil rights action.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 86.021, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f)  For the purpose of a civil rights action brought under
42 U.S.C. Section 1983, a constable is a final policy maker on law
enforcement decisions for the constable's county.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to policy-making authority of constables for the purpose