Monitoring the SessionHB 1789
Died in committee
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to enhancing the criminal penalty for the offense of intoxication manslaughter in certain circumstances.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
More than one death makes it a first-degree felony.
The bill makes intoxication manslaughter a first-degree felony when the driver kills more than one person in the same criminal transaction. It touches people prosecuted for causing deaths while intoxicated, adding multi-victim cases to the existing first-degree enhancement for victims described in Subsection (b-1). Starting September 1, 2025, multi-death intoxication cases can carry the higher first-degree penalty instead of the base level.
Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 726 by Sen. Kolkhorst (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
89R-HB1789 · 2025-01-08
relating to enhancing the criminal penalty for the offense of intoxication manslaughter in certain circumstances.
More than one death makes it a first-degree felony.
The bill makes intoxication manslaughter a first-degree felony when the driver kills more than one person in the same criminal transaction. It touches people prosecuted for causing deaths while intoxicated, adding multi-victim cases to the existing first-degree enhancement for victims described in Subsection (b-1). Starting September 1, 2025, multi-death intoxication cases can carry the higher first-degree penalty instead of the base level.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · April 1, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$316,248.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.
$88,800.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.
$67,750.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101036569.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$316,248.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.
$88,800.00
Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.
$67,750.00
Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101036569.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · April 1, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Kolkhorst, different lead author · Did not pass · same text
Introduced textLast action, May 17, 2023: Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Relating to enhancing the criminal penalty for the offense of intoxication manslaughter in certain circumstances.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Jan 8, 2025
04/03/2025 H Left pending in subcommittee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
SB 745 by Kolkhorst (identical)
Criminal Procedure--Sentencing & Punishment
Vehicles & Traffic--DWI & DUID
The text as introduced · 198 words
89R3573 CJD-F By: Gerdes H.B. No. 1789 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to enhancing the criminal penalty for the offense of intoxication manslaughter in certain circumstances. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 49.09(b-2), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (b-2) An offense under Section 49.08 is a felony of the first degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person caused the death of : (1) a person described by Subsection (b-1) ; or (2) more than one person during the same criminal transaction . SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.