HB 5540
bill repeals one indigent counsel subsection
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 appointment of counsel for indigent defendants released from custody.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Article 1.051(j), gone. Affects defendants released before a lawyer.
The bill repeals one subsection of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 1.051(j), which deals with appointing lawyers for poor defendants. It touches indigent defendants who are released from custody before a lawyer is appointed, along with the courts and counties that handle those appointments. Once the subsection is gone, those released defendants fall under the general appointment rules in the rest of that article, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 55 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 55 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 Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5540 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants released from custody.
WHAT IT DOES
Article 1.051(j), gone. Affects defendants released before a lawyer.
The bill repeals one subsection of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 1.051(j), which deals with appointing lawyers for poor defendants. It touches indigent defendants who are released from custody before a lawyer is appointed, along with the courts and counties that handle those appointments. Once the subsection is gone, those released defendants fall under the general appointment rules in the rest of that article, starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
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 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.
One Texas PAC$100,000.00
One Texas PAC
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 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.
Report IDs: 101027855.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$30,000.00
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $30,000.00
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 · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 15, 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: 101012345, 101027855, 101058317, 101068299, 101071424.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$20,000.00
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 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: 101058317.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
One Texas PAC
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 19, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 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.
Report IDs: 101027855.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$30,000.00
- Cash
- $30,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $30,000.00
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 · Nov 19, 2024 to Oct 15, 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: 101012345, 101027855, 101058317, 101068299, 101071424.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 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: 101058317.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
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 · Criminal Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Criminal Procedure--Defense Counsel
Criminal Procedure--General
INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES
Text
The text as introduced · 55 words
By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 5540 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants released from custody. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 1.051(j), Code of Criminal Procedure, is repealed. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.