HB 5542

relating to the eligibility of a person to serve as sheriff.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 85.0011(b), Local Government Code, is
(b)  A person is not eligible to serve as sheriff unless the
(1)  has a high school diploma or a high school
[(A)]  holds an active permanent peace officer
license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; [or
[(B)  is eligible to be licensed under Sections
1701.309 and 1701.312, Occupations Code,] and
[(i)]  has a minimum of five years of
experience as a peace officer [federal special investigator; or
[(ii)  is a military veteran with a minimum
of 10 years of combined active duty or national guard service
SECTION 2.  Section 1701.302(a), Occupations Code, is
(a)  Except as provided by Section 85.0011, Local Government
Code, an officer[, including a sheriff,] elected under the Texas
Constitution or a statute or appointed to fill a vacancy in an
elective office must obtain a license from the commission not later
than the second anniversary of the date the officer takes office.
SECTION 3.  Sections 85.0011(a) and (c), Local Government
SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act do not apply
to a sheriff serving a term that began before the effective date of
this Act.  A sheriff serving a term that began before the effective
date of this Act is governed for the remainder of that term by the
law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act,
and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.