Monitoring the Session

HB 4264

$6,500 Officer Grant Skips Officers Who Already Earned The Certificate

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Cole HefnerRHouse 5
Why it's charged
The hole

THE TEXT

…“Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.”

Bill text, Senate committee report version (S)

The stated pitch is rewarding and keeping career officers, but this clause limits grants to certificates earned after the effective date. Officers who already hold the master certificate, who are the most experienced, are left out.

The hole

On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked the caption mismatch charge against the bill's caption and removed it.

Corrected Nov 1, 2026

Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.

Caption from analyzed text · version S.

Summary

The grant covers master certificates earned after the effective date. Existing certificate holders are left out.

The bill lets the state's criminal justice division set up a grant program, if lawmakers fund it, that pays $6,500 one time toward a peace officer's pay. It covers full-time peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate, and the money goes to their employing agency, which must use it only to raise that officer's compensation. Only certificates issued on or after September 1, 2025 count, and nothing happens at all unless the division chooses to start the program and money is set aside for it.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Cole Hefner (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4264 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Cole HefnerRHouse 5

ITEM

relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.

WHAT IT DOES

The grant covers master certificates earned after the effective date. Existing certificate holders are left out.

The bill lets the state's criminal justice division set up a grant program, if lawmakers fund it, that pays $6,500 one time toward a peace officer's pay. It covers full-time peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate, and the money goes to their employing agency, which must use it only to raise that officer's compensation. Only certificates issued on or after September 1, 2025 count, and nothing happens at all unless the division chooses to start the program and money is set aside for it.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 55%

THE TEXT

…“Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.”

Bill text, Senate committee report version (S)

The stated pitch is rewarding and keeping career officers, but this clause limits grants to certificates earned after the effective date. Officers who already hold the master certificate, who are the most experienced, are left out.

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 27, 2025

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. There would be an indeterminate cost related to the grant program authorized by the bill which would be dependent on the number of grant applications and appropriations made for this purpose.

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 Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Postponed 5/1/25 3:15 PM
  17. Laid out as postponed business
  18. Amended 1-Morgan and Pierson
  19. Passed to engrossment as amended
  20. Record vote RV#1222
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote RV#1322
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Finance
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Vote taken in committee
  33. Reported favorably as substituted
  34. Committee report printed and distributed
  35. Placed on intent calendar
  36. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  37. Record vote
  38. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  39. Record vote
  40. Three day rule suspended
  41. Record vote
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote
  45. Senate passage as amended reported
  46. Senate Amendments distributed
  47. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  48. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  49. Record vote RV#3992
  50. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  51. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  52. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  53. Reported enrolled
  54. Signed in the House
  55. Signed in the Senate
  56. Sent to the Governor
  57. Signed by the Governor
  58. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

GOVERNMENT GROWTH UNDER A CONSERVATIVE BANNER

THE TEXT

…“agency may use the money only to increase the compensation of the”…

Bill text, Senate committee report version (S)

The grant money must go to raising the pay of government-employed peace officers.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 115 yea · 17 nay

Senate · 28 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Cole Hefner

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$108KDustin Burrows Campaign$46KGulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC$20K

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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$107,878.12

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$107,878.12

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$42,878.12
Total
$107,878.12
mail $42,794.79fundraiser $83.33

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 17, 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: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$46,150.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$46,150.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$21,150.00
Total
$46,150.00
polling $21,150.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2025 to Jan 6, 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: 101009093, 101031796.

Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC$20,000.00

Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 90 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 12, 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: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$107,878.12

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$42,878.12
Total
$107,878.12
mail $42,794.79fundraiser $83.33

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 17, 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: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$46,150.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$21,150.00
Total
$46,150.00
polling $21,150.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2025 to Jan 6, 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: 101009093, 101031796.

×

Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 90 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 12, 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: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

Votes7

House May 28, 2025

Yea
98
Nay
39
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
10
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3992

Representative Hefner moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 4264. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 4264 prevailed by (Record 3992): 98 Yeas, 39 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 98 (published)
  • Nay: 39 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator J. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 4264 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

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

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
28
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator J. Hinojosa moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSHB 4264 at this time on its second reading: CSHB 4264, Relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

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

  • Yea: 28 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House May 2, 2025

Yea
115
Nay
17
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
11
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1322

HB 4264 was passed by (Record 1322): 115 Yeas, 17 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 115 (published)
  • Nay: 17 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 11 (derived from named list)

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

House May 1, 2025

Yea
130
Nay
12
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
4
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1222

HB 4264, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 1222): 130 Yeas, 12 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 130 (published)
  • Nay: 12 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses13
For
13
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Bexar County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)2 registrations
  • Conference of Urban Counties1 registration
  • Dallas County1 registration
  • Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP#391 registration
  • Houston Police Department1 registration
  • Self2 registrations
  • Sheriffs’ Association of Texas (SAT)1 registration
  • Texas Municipal League1 registration
  • Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration
  • TMPA1 registration
Sources

13 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 first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 27, 2025

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. There would be an indeterminate cost related to the grant program authorized by the bill which would be dependent on the number of grant applications and appropriations made for this purpose.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version S by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 10, 2025

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

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Finance · Committee vote 13 aye, 2 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Labor--Workforce Development

Law Enforcement

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

Salaries & Expenses

State Employees

State Finances--Management & Control

PEACE OFFICERS

COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, TEXAS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

Text

The text as introduced · 543 words

89R8371 GP-F

By: Hefner
H.B. No. 4264

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers

who hold a master proficiency certificate.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 772.013 to read as follows:

Sec. 772.013. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS WITH

MASTER PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE. (a) In this section:

(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal

justice division established under Section 772.006.

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of this

state or an agency of a political subdivision of this state

authorized by law to employ peace officers.

(3) "Peace officer" means a person elected, employed,

or appointed as a peace officer under Article 2A.001, Code of

Criminal Procedure, or other law.

(b) The criminal justice division shall establish a grant

program for the public purpose of fostering the professional

development of peace officers employed in this state.

(c) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a person

must:

(1) hold a master proficiency certificate issued by

the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.402,

Occupations Code;

(2) be employed on a full-time basis as a peace officer

by a law enforcement agency; and

(3) meet any other eligibility criteria established by

the criminal justice division.

(d) Only the following persons may apply for a grant under

this section:

(1) a law enforcement agency on behalf of an employee

of the agency who meets the eligibility criteria for a grant under

this section; or

(2) a person who meets the eligibility criteria for a

grant under this section with the consent of the person's employing

law enforcement agency.

(e) The criminal justice division shall award a grant under

this section to a law enforcement agency. The law enforcement

agency shall use the money only to increase the compensation of the

employee who applied for the grant or for whom the agency applied

for the grant.

(f) The criminal justice division shall establish

procedures for:

(1) processing grant applications in addition to any

other application procedures prescribed by this section;

(2) evaluating grant applications; and

(3) monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the

program and ensuring compliance with any condition of a grant.

(g) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the

criminal justice division shall award grants under this section in

an amount equal to $6,500 for each award. The criminal justice

division may increase the amount of an award in a state fiscal year

after the state fiscal year in which the program was established to

an amount the value of which is equal to the value of the grant in

the previous fiscal year after adjustment for inflation, as

calculated by the criminal justice division.

(h) The criminal justice division may use any money

available for purposes of this section.

SECTION 2. The criminal justice division established under

Section 772.006, Government Code, may award a grant under Section

772.013, Government Code, as added by this Act, only with respect to

a master proficiency certificate issued under Section 1701.402,

Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.