Monitoring the SessionHB 870
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 requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a criminal case involving a controlled substance.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Civilian informants already needed backup evidence. Now officers do too.
The bill widens the rule that testimony from covert informants in drug cases must be backed up by other evidence before a conviction. It now covers licensed peace officers and special investigators working undercover, not just civilian informants. Starting September 1, 2025, a person cannot be convicted of a drug offense based only on an undercover officer's testimony unless other evidence ties the defendant to the offense.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 412 (Did not pass) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 412 (Did not pass). 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.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB870 · 2024-11-12
relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a criminal case involving a controlled substance.
Civilian informants already needed backup evidence. Now officers do too.
The bill widens the rule that testimony from covert informants in drug cases must be backed up by other evidence before a conviction. It now covers licensed peace officers and special investigators working undercover, not just civilian informants. Starting September 1, 2025, a person cannot be convicted of a drug offense based only on an undercover officer's testimony unless other evidence ties the defendant to the offense.
[ ] 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 18, 2024 to Oct 21, 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.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$22,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$14,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to 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: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$22,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$14,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2024 to 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: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.
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. Senfronia Thompson, same lead author · Did not pass · reworked
Introduced textLast action, May 2, 2023: Received from the House
Relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a criminal case involving a controlled substance.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/05/2025 H Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM
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
Crimes--Drugs
Criminal Procedure--General
The text as introduced · 273 words
89R1392 MCF-F By: Thompson H.B. No. 870 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a criminal case involving a controlled substance. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 38.141, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: Art. 38.141. CORROBORATION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TESTIMONY RELATING TO COVERT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY [ OF UNDERCOVER PEACE OFFICER OR SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR ]. (a) A defendant may not be convicted of an offense under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, on the testimony of a person who is [ not a licensed peace officer or a special investigator but who is ] acting covertly on behalf of a law enforcement agency or under the color of law enforcement unless the testimony is corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense committed. (b) Corroboration is not sufficient for the purposes of this article if the corroboration only shows the commission of the offense. [ (c) In this article, "peace officer" means a person listed in Article 2A.001, and "special investigator" means a person listed in Article 2A.002. ] SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to any case in which a judgment is entered on or after the effective date of this Act. A case in which a judgment is entered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the judgment was entered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.