HB 4714
Hopper’s bill on DPS testing evidence for controlled substances
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Corrected Oct 31, 2026
Corrected Oct 31, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
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 testing of evidence for controlled substances by the Department of Public Safety.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
DPS must test drug evidence regardless of quantity. Late testing means reimbursing another lab.
Analysis prose withheld.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4714 · 2025-03-12
SOLD BY
+ 1 coauthor
ITEM
relating to the testing of evidence for controlled substances by the Department of Public Safety.
WHAT IT DOES
DPS must test drug evidence regardless of quantity. Late testing means reimbursing another lab.
Analysis prose withheld.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 27, 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 United for a Conservative Majority PAC$165,000.00
Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC
$165,000.00
- Cash
- $145,000.00
- Paid by others
- $20,000.00
- Total
- $165,000.00
Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Jul 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: 101012447, 101031840, 101035276, 101045753, 101059537, 101069128.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$111,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$111,000.00
- Cash
- $105,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $111,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 18, 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: 101012447, 101031840, 101035276, 101045753, 101072124.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$106,000.00
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$106,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $106,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Feb 4, 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: 101012447, 101045753.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC
$165,000.00
- Cash
- $145,000.00
- Paid by others
- $20,000.00
- Total
- $165,000.00
Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Jul 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: 101012447, 101031840, 101035276, 101045753, 101059537, 101069128.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$111,000.00
- Cash
- $105,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $111,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 18, 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: 101012447, 101031840, 101035276, 101045753, 101072124.
Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC
$106,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $106,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Feb 4, 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: 101012447, 101045753.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 12, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 31, 2026 at 8:37 PM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Crimes--Drugs
Criminal Procedure--General
DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING
EVIDENCE
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
Text
The text as introduced · 310 words
89R15395 CJD-D By: Hopper H.B. No. 4714 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the testing of evidence for controlled substances by the Department of Public Safety. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G-2 to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER G-2. EVIDENCE TESTING FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Sec. 411.166. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "controlled substance" has the meaning assigned by Section 481.002, Health and Safety Code. Sec. 411.167. TESTING REQUIRED. (a) The department shall test evidence that may contain a controlled substance that is submitted to the department by an attorney representing the state in connection with a criminal action to be tested by the department's laboratory using validated laboratory procedures and sampling protocols to determine whether the substance is a controlled substance. (b) The department shall conduct the testing described by Subsection (a) regardless of: (1) the amount of the evidence suspected to contain a controlled substance seized in connection with the offense that is the subject of the criminal action; or (2) the category of offense with which the defendant in the criminal action is charged or may be charged. Sec. 411.168. FAILURE TO TEST; REIMBURSEMENT OF ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE STATE. If the testing required under this subchapter is not completed before the 180th day after the date the department received the evidence to be tested, the department shall: (1) return the evidence submitted for testing to the appropriate attorney representing the state; and (2) reimburse the attorney representing the state for the cost of having the evidence tested by an independent laboratory. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to evidence submitted to the Department of Public Safety on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.