HB 2697: bill adding a step for bail bond companies

Caption

relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond forfeiture.

Summary

In felony cases, the surety tells the prosecutor first.

The bill changes the steps a bail bond company or other surety must take before asking a court to let it give up responsibility for a defendant it bonded out. In felony cases, the surety must now tell the prosecutor ahead of time, in addition to the defendant's lawyer, and its sworn filing must say that notice was given. Prosecutors get advance warning before a felony defendant's bond is surrendered, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Rafael Anchía (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Joan Huffman (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2697 · 2025-02-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Rafael AnchíaDHouse 103

Rep. David CookRHouse 96

Rep. Mitch LittleRHouse 65

+ 1 more author, 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond forfeiture.

WHAT IT DOES

In felony cases, the surety tells the prosecutor first.

The bill changes the steps a bail bond company or other surety must take before asking a court to let it give up responsibility for a defendant it bonded out. In felony cases, the surety must now tell the prosecutor ahead of time, in addition to the defendant's lawyer, and its sworn filing must say that notice was given. Prosecutors get advance warning before a felony defendant's bond is surrendered, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 19, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Feb 12, 2025Filed
Mar 18, 2025Read first time
Mar 18, 2025Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
Apr 1, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 1, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 1, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 1, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 22, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 22, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 29, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 29, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 30, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 2, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 5, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 5, 2025Read 2nd time
May 5, 2025Postponed 5/7/25 10:00 AM
May 7, 2025Laid out as postponed business
May 7, 2025Passed to engrossment
May 7, 2025Record vote RV#1642
May 7, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 8, 2025Read 3rd time
May 8, 2025Passed
May 8, 2025Record vote RV#1759
May 8, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 8, 2025Reported engrossed
May 8, 2025Received from the House
May 9, 2025Read first time
May 9, 2025Referred to Criminal Justice
May 20, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 20, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 20, 2025Testimony taken in committee
May 20, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 21, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 21, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
May 21, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 23, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 23, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 23, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
May 23, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 23, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 23, 2025Record vote
May 23, 2025Read 3rd time
May 23, 2025Passed
May 23, 2025Record vote
May 24, 2025Senate passage reported
May 24, 2025Reported enrolled
May 25, 2025Signed in the House
May 25, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 26, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 144 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Rafael Anchía

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15K Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.$14K Blackridge$12K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 30, 2024 to Oct 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.$13,500.00

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.

$13,500.00

Cash: $13,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $13,500.00

Also funds 84 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 14, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

Blackridge$12,000.00

Blackridge

$12,000.00

Cash: $12,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $12,000.00

Also funds 86 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 5, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 13, 2025 to Aug 11, 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: 101033306, 101061466, 101071312.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash: $15,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $15,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

×

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.

$13,500.00

Cash: $13,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $13,500.00

Also funds 84 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 14, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 16, 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: 100988591, 101033306, 101072783.

×

Blackridge

$12,000.00

Cash: $12,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $12,000.00

Also funds 86 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 5, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 13, 2025 to Aug 11, 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: 101033306, 101061466, 101071312.

Votes5

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2697 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2697 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 8, 2025

Yea: 144
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 3
Excused: 0

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1759

HB 2697 was passed by (Record 1759): 144 Yeas, 1 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 144 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea: 141
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 5
Excused: 2

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1642

HB 2697 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1642): 141 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 141 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses8

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Dallas County Criminal District Attorney - John Creuzot1 registration
Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #391 registration
Self3 registrations
Self; 106th Judicial District1 registration
Self; Chambers County District Attorney1 registration
Self; Dallas County Criminal District Attorneys Office1 registration

Sources

8 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 19, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 12, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Gene WuDHouse 137

Companion

SB 2219 by Huffman (identical)

Subjects

Criminal Procedure--Bail & Pretrial Release

Criminal Procedure--General

Text

The text as introduced · 274 words

89R8639 AJZ-F

By: Anchía
H.B. No. 2697

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond

forfeiture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 17.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to

read as follows:

(a) Subject to Subsection (a-1), a [ Any ] surety that wants [ ,

desiring ] to surrender the surety's [ his ] principal and has

notified [ after notifying ] the principal's attorney, if the

principal is represented by an attorney, in a manner provided by

Rule 21a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, of the surety's intention

to surrender the principal, may file an affidavit of that [ such ]

intention before the court or magistrate before which the

prosecution is pending. The affidavit must state:

(1) the court and cause number of the case;

(2) the name of the defendant;

(3) the offense with which the defendant is charged;

(4) the date of the bond;

(5) the cause for the surrender; and

(6) that notice of the surety's intention to surrender

the principal has been given as required by this subsection and

Subsection (a-1), if applicable .

(a-1) If the offense with which the defendant is charged is

classified as a felony under the Penal Code, in addition to

satisfying the requirements provided by Subsection (a), a surety

must, before filing the affidavit described by that subsection,

notify the attorney representing the state with jurisdiction in the

case of the surety's intention to surrender the principal.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.

Blackridge

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Vistra Employee Political Action Committee of Vistra Corp.

Blackridge

Senate May 23, 2025

Senate May 23, 2025

Senate May 23, 2025

House May 8, 2025

House May 7, 2025

For

Companion