Monitoring the Session

HB 4937

bill on how often the parole board reconsiders

Companion SB 1506 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Sam HarlessRHouse 126

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 frequency with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for release on parole.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Today most denied inmates get another look about a year later.

This bill changes how long the parole board can wait before taking another look at an inmate it has turned down for parole. Today, most inmates who are denied get reconsidered about a year later, and only those serving time for certain serious listed offenses can be set off longer. Under this bill, every denied inmate gets a next-review month picked by the parole panel, somewhere between one and five years out, or up to ten years for certain sex offenses and capital life sentences.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4937 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Sam HarlessRHouse 126 Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138

ITEM

relating to the frequency with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for release on parole.

WHAT IT DOES

Today most denied inmates get another look about a year later.

This bill changes how long the parole board can wait before taking another look at an inmate it has turned down for parole. Today, most inmates who are denied get reconsidered about a year later, and only those serving time for certain serious listed offenses can be set off longer. Under this bill, every denied inmate gets a next-review month picked by the parole panel, somewhere between one and five years out, or up to ten years for certain sex offenses and capital life sentences.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 24, 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 Corrections
  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
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Companion considered in lieu of SB 1506
  18. Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Sam Harless

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$28KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$15KFRANK STILLEY$10,000

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 2, 2024 to Aug 19, 2025. 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$27,500.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$27,500.00

Cash
$27,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$27,500.00

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 · Sep 12, 2024 to Jun 23, 2025. 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: 100982685, 101007085.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$15,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$15,000.00

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

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 2, 2024 to Jun 23, 2025. 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: 100982685, 101007085.

FRANK STILLEY$10,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$27,500.00

Cash
$27,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$27,500.00

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 · Sep 12, 2024 to Jun 23, 2025. 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: 100982685, 101007085.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$15,000.00

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

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 2, 2024 to Jun 23, 2025. 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: 100982685, 101007085.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses12
For
5
Against
5
On
2
Names

For

  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
  • Self2 registrations
  • Self; Crime Stoppers1 registration
  • TMPA1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration
  • Self; LatinoJustice PRLDEF1 registration
  • Self; Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance1 registration
  • Texas Appleseed1 registration
  • Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association1 registration

On

  • Alliance for safety and justice1 registration
  • Board of Pardons and Paroles1 registration
Sources

12 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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 24, 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 Mar 13, 2025

05/05/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

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

House committee · Corrections · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1506 by Parker (identical)

Subjects

Corrections--Parole, Probation & Pardons

PARDONS & PAROLES, BOARD OF

Text

The text as introduced · 328 words

89R12702 BCH-D

By: Harless
H.B. No. 4937

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the frequency with which the Board of Pardons and

Paroles reconsiders inmates for release on parole.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 508.141(g) and (g-1), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(g) The board shall adopt a policy establishing the date on

which the board may reconsider for release an inmate who has

previously been denied release. The policy must require the board

to reconsider the inmate for release[ :

[ (1) an inmate serving a sentence for an offense

listed in Section 508.149(a) or for an offense punishable as a

felony of the second or third degree under Section 22.04, Penal

Code, ] during a month designated under Subsection (g-1) by the

parole panel that denied release[ ; and

[ (2) an inmate other than an inmate described by

Subdivision (1) as soon as practicable after the first anniversary

of the date of the denial ].

(g-1) The month designated for reconsideration [ under

Subsection (g)(1) by the parole panel that denied release ] must :

(1) except as provided by Subdivision (2), begin after

the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before the

fifth anniversary of the date of the denial ; or

(2) if [ , unless ] the inmate is serving a sentence for

an offense under Section 22.021, Penal Code, or a life sentence for

a capital felony, [ in which event the designated month must ] begin

after the first anniversary of the date of the denial and end before

the 10th anniversary of the date of the denial.

SECTION 2. The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall adopt a

policy consistent with Section 508.141, Government Code, as amended

by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this

Act.

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