Monitoring the Session

HB 3111

bill saying a credit card skimmer is not a phone

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Mary Ann PerezDHouse 144

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

Caption

relating to the search of certain wireless communications devices by a peace officer.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Officers can search the skimmer without a warrant. Phones stay protected.

The bill keeps the rule that a peace officer needs a warrant to search a person's cell phone or other wireless device after arresting them. It adds that a credit card skimmer is not a wireless communications device under this rule. Officers who arrest someone carrying a skimmer can search that skimmer without a warrant, while phones stay protected.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 112 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 112 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3111 · 2025-02-20

SOLD BY

Rep. Mary Ann PerezDHouse 144

ITEM

relating to the search of certain wireless communications devices by a peace officer.

WHAT IT DOES

Officers can search the skimmer without a warrant. Phones stay protected.

The bill keeps the rule that a peace officer needs a warrant to search a person's cell phone or other wireless device after arresting them. It adds that a credit card skimmer is not a wireless communications device under this rule. Officers who arrest someone carrying a skimmer can search that skimmer without a warrant, while phones stay protected.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“A wireless communications device does not include a skimmer as defined by Section 607.001, Business & Commerce Code.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill keeps the warrant rule for police searches of phones after arrest and removes card skimmers from that protection.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Mary Ann Perez

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$63KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$55KRise' Montrell$25,000

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 1, 2024 to Oct 22, 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 Sands PAC$63,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$63,000.00

Cash
$63,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$63,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 100985772, 101040038, 101071674.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$55,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

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 · Sep 23, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100985772, 101011400, 101028092, 101034447, 101069023.

Rise' Montrell$25,000.00
Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$63,000.00

Cash
$63,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$63,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 100985772, 101040038, 101071674.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

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 · Sep 23, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100985772, 101011400, 101028092, 101034447, 101069023.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 20, 2025

04/15/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 1497 by Nichols (identical)

Subjects

Criminal Procedure--General

Law Enforcement

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

SEARCH WARRANTS

Text

The text as introduced · 112 words

89R9221 JDK-D

By: Perez of Harris
H.B. No. 3111

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the search of certain wireless communications devices

by a peace officer.

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

SECTION 1. Article 18.0215(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,

is amended to read as follows:

(a) A peace officer may not search a person's cellular

telephone or other wireless communications device, pursuant to a

lawful arrest of the person without obtaining a warrant under this

article. A wireless communications device does not include a

skimmer as defined by Section 607.001, Business & Commerce Code.

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