Monitoring the SessionHB 489
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 the temperature at which a facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is maintained.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Every facility the department runs, inmates and staff alike.
This bill requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to keep the temperature in every facility it runs between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It affects every prison and other facility the department operates, along with the inmates and staff inside them. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, but the department does not have to comply until September 1, 2026.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1213 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1213 (Died in committee). 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.QUICK READ: 136 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 136 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).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Corrections committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB489 · 2024-11-12
relating to the temperature at which a facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is maintained.
Every facility the department runs, inmates and staff alike.
This bill requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to keep the temperature in every facility it runs between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It affects every prison and other facility the department operates, along with the inmates and staff inside them. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, but the department does not have to comply until September 1, 2026.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 · Jul 2, 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.
$85,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 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.
Report IDs: 101056369, 101068193.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$85,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 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.
Report IDs: 101056369, 101068193.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Rep. Rosenthal, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 3, 2023: Referred to Corrections
Relating to the temperature at which a facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is maintained.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
02/28/2025 H Referred to Corrections: Feb 28 2025 11:02AM
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 · Corrections · Final status: Died in committee
SB 169 by Menéndez (identical)
Corrections--Jails & Prisons
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
The text as introduced · 136 words
89R3064 SCR-F By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 489 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the temperature at which a facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is maintained. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 501.028 to read as follows: Sec. 501.028. TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS AT DEPARTMENT FACILITIES. The department shall ensure that the temperature in each facility operated by the department is maintained at not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is not required to comply with the requirements of Section 501.028, Government Code, as added by this Act, until September 1, 2026. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.