SB 1199
Jail Deaths Ruled Natural Skip The Outside Investigation
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
The hole
THE TEXT
…“other than a death from natural causes as determined by a physician during an autopsy or examination of the deceased prisoner”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's only change is an exception that removes natural-cause deaths from the outside investigation requirement. A physician's examination, not a full autopsy, is enough, and the text does not require that physician to be independent of the jail, so the ruling that skips the outside review comes before any outside review happens.
The holeInitial 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 investigation of the death of a prisoner in county jail.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
An examination counts, no autopsy needed. Nothing requires the physician to be independent of the jail.
This bill changes the rule that every death of a prisoner in a county jail must be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency picked by the state jail commission. Under the new text, deaths ruled natural causes by a physician during an autopsy or an examination no longer need that outside investigation. Jailers, sheriffs, and families of people who die in county jails are affected, and fewer jail deaths will get an independent look starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 135 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 135 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).PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the Senate Criminal Justice committee on Apr 29, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1199 · 2025-02-10
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the investigation of the death of a prisoner in county jail.
WHAT IT DOES
An examination counts, no autopsy needed. Nothing requires the physician to be independent of the jail.
This bill changes the rule that every death of a prisoner in a county jail must be investigated by an outside law enforcement agency picked by the state jail commission. Under the new text, deaths ruled natural causes by a physician during an autopsy or an examination no longer need that outside investigation. Jailers, sheriffs, and families of people who die in county jails are affected, and fewer jail deaths will get an independent look starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 55%
THE TEXT
…“other than a death from natural causes as determined by a physician during an autopsy or examination of the deceased prisoner”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill's only change is an exception that removes natural-cause deaths from the outside investigation requirement. A physician's examination, not a full autopsy, is enough, and the text does not require that physician to be independent of the jail, so the ruling that skips the outside review comes before any outside review happens.
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 28, 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
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Justice
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken in committee
- Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Derived from itemized gifts, Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
$353,800 raised since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. blank in the state's data, consistent with zero. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$502,039 spent since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$731,044 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 28, 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 Senate · Filed Feb 10, 2025
04/29/2025 S Left pending in committee
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
Corrections--Jails & Prisons
AUTOPSIES
JAIL STANDARDS, COMMISSION ON
Text
The text as introduced · 135 words
89R8912 JDK-D By: Birdwell S.B. No. 1199 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the investigation of the death of a prisoner in county jail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 511.021(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) On the death of a prisoner in a county jail, other than a death from natural causes as determined by a physician during an autopsy or examination of the deceased prisoner, the commission shall appoint a law enforcement agency, other than the local law enforcement agency that operates the county jail, to investigate the death as soon as possible. Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b), the appointed law enforcement agency shall conduct the investigation. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.