SB 1125
Middleton ‘Criminal Pursuit’ Bill Targets Gang Members Tailing People From Banks
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Already a crime
THE TEXT
“is in possession of two or more criminal instruments, as defined by Section 16.01.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Based on general knowledge of Texas law, Section 16.01 already makes it an offense to possess a criminal instrument with intent to use it in an offense, and the bill's own stacking clause expects overlap. The new offense still adds the following-from-a-bank element and a higher penalty, so the overlap is only partial.
Already a crimeInitial 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 creating the criminal offense of criminal pursuit.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Third-degree felony before any theft happens. Section 16.01 already covers part of it.
The bill creates a new third-degree felony offense called "criminal pursuit" in the Penal Code. It reaches a person who follows someone from a business or bank along the same route, intending robbery, burglary-theft, or theft, while also being a criminal street gang member and carrying two or more criminal instruments. Prosecutors could charge this conduct before any robbery or theft happens, and could stack it with other offenses starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 6, 2025 and referred to the Senate Criminal Justice committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1125 · 2025-02-06
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to creating the criminal offense of criminal pursuit.
WHAT IT DOES
Third-degree felony before any theft happens. Section 16.01 already covers part of it.
The bill creates a new third-degree felony offense called "criminal pursuit" in the Penal Code. It reaches a person who follows someone from a business or bank along the same route, intending robbery, burglary-theft, or theft, while also being a criminal street gang member and carrying two or more criminal instruments. Prosecutors could charge this conduct before any robbery or theft happens, and could stack it with other offenses starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] ALREADY A CRIMEanalysis confidence 40%
THE TEXT
“is in possession of two or more criminal instruments, as defined by Section 16.01.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
Based on general knowledge of Texas law, Section 16.01 already makes it an offense to possess a criminal instrument with intent to use it in an offense, and the bill's own stacking clause expects overlap. The new offense still adds the following-from-a-bank element and a higher penalty, so the overlap is only partial.
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 6, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1,140,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$1,140,000.00
- Cash
- $1,140,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,140,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 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.
Report IDs: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$1,140,000.00
- Cash
- $1,140,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,140,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 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.
Report IDs: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
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 6, 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
Crimes--Against Property
Criminal Procedure--General
Text
The text as introduced · 203 words
89R10225 MEW-F By: Middleton S.B. No. 1125 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to creating the criminal offense of criminal pursuit. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 15, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 15.021 to read as follows: Sec. 15.021. CRIMINAL PURSUIT. (a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to commit an offense under Chapter 29, an offense under Section 30.04 involving theft, or an offense under Section 31.03, the person: (1) knowingly travels from a commercial business or financial institution, as defined by Section 201.101, Finance Code, on the same path or route as another person without substantially deviating from that path or route; (2) is a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01; and (3) is in possession of two or more criminal instruments, as defined by Section 16.01. (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree. (c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both sections. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.