SB 1083
West Bill Picks Its County With Two Stacked Population Tests
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Bracket bill
THE TEXT
“This subsection applies only to a county with a population of 2.5 million or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than 2.1 million.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Two stacked population tests, one for the county and one for its neighbor, narrow a statewide criminal procedure article to what reads as a single county. The caption says only "certain counties" and does not say which.
Bracket billInitial 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 representation of an indigent person in certain criminal proceedings in certain counties.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
County of 2.5M+, neighbor over 2.1M. It may pay for a lawyer at first appearance.
The bill lets a county pay for a lawyer to stand with a poor arrested person at their first appearance before a magistrate, the hearing right after arrest. It applies only to a county of 2.5 million or more people that borders a county of more than 2.1 million, and only if that county chooses to fund it. The appointed lawyer handles only that first hearing and can stay on the case only if separately appointed, for people arrested on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 4, 2025 and referred to the Senate Criminal Justice committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1083 · 2025-02-04
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the representation of an indigent person in certain criminal proceedings in certain counties.
WHAT IT DOES
County of 2.5M+, neighbor over 2.1M. It may pay for a lawyer at first appearance.
The bill lets a county pay for a lawyer to stand with a poor arrested person at their first appearance before a magistrate, the hearing right after arrest. It applies only to a county of 2.5 million or more people that borders a county of more than 2.1 million, and only if that county chooses to fund it. The appointed lawyer handles only that first hearing and can stay on the case only if separately appointed, for people arrested on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%
THE TEXT
“This subsection applies only to a county with a population of 2.5 million or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than 2.1 million.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Two stacked population tests, one for the county and one for its neighbor, narrow a statewide criminal procedure article to what reads as a single county. The caption says only "certain counties" and does not say which.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Justice
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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00
Skyview Development LLC
$36,332.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,332.00
- Total
- $36,332.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
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 · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Skyview Development LLC
$36,332.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,332.00
- Total
- $36,332.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
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 · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.
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 Senate · Filed Feb 4, 2025
02/24/2025 S Referred to Criminal Justice
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Criminal Justice · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Courts--General
Criminal Procedure--Defense Counsel
Criminal Procedure--General
INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES
Text
The text as introduced · 242 words
89R6230 JCG-F By: West S.B. No. 1083 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the representation of an indigent person in certain criminal proceedings in certain counties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 26.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: (i-1) This subsection applies only to a county with a population of 2.5 million or more that is adjacent to a county with a population of more than 2.1 million. Notwithstanding Subsection (j)(2) or any other law, and if funds are appropriated by a county for this purpose, an attorney may be appointed under this article to represent an indigent person for the sole purpose of providing counsel in relation to that person's appearance before a magistrate as required by Article 14.06(a), 15.17(a), or 15.18(a). The attorney may represent the person in subsequent proceedings of that case, only if appointed for that purpose under the other provisions of this article. SECTION 2. Article 26.04(i-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, applies only to a person who is arrested on or after the effective date of this Act. A person arrested before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the person was arrested, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.