Relevant Criminal Defense-Related Bills: 89th Texas Legislative Session

SB 31 – Emergency Exception in Abortion Ban
Status: Sent to Governor
This bill clarifies when doctors can legally provide abortions in medical emergencies. While not a traditional criminal defense bill, it directly affects criminal liability and prosecutorial discretion for healthcare providers.

SB 1026 – Prosecution of Election Crimes
Status: In the Works
Increases enforcement and resources for prosecuting election-related offenses, which could lead to more aggressive criminal investigations and prosecutions.

SJR 5 – Tightening Bail Laws
Status: In the Works
This proposed constitutional amendment seeks to restrict judges’ ability to offer bail to certain repeat offenders. If passed, it could significantly impact pretrial release practices in criminal cases.

SB 38 – Speed Up Evictions
Status: In the Works
While focused on civil eviction proceedings, faster timelines could lead to an increase in related criminal trespass charges following evictions, especially in marginalized communities.

HB 33 – Law Enforcement Response to Mass Shootings
Status: In the Works
Enhances training and protocol for police responding to mass shootings, which could impact how use-of-force and public safety incidents are prosecuted or defended.

SB 12, SB 13, SB 2880 – Related to Schools, Libraries, and Abortion Access
While primarily policy-focused, some of these laws could result in new areas of criminal enforcement.