Monitoring the Session

SB 1220

criminal courts don’t wait on civil remedies

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

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 subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Unless a law expressly says otherwise.

The bill says a Texas criminal trial court gets its power to hear a criminal case even if nobody first used up civil or administrative remedies, unless a law expressly says otherwise. It touches prosecutors, defendants, and criminal courts, especially in cases where a defendant argues a civil or agency process had to come first. On the ground, that argument loses its footing as a bar to a court's jurisdiction, and the rule reaches cases already filed as well as new ones.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1220 · 2025-02-11

SOLD BY

Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state.

WHAT IT DOES

Unless a law expressly says otherwise.

The bill says a Texas criminal trial court gets its power to hear a criminal case even if nobody first used up civil or administrative remedies, unless a law expressly says otherwise. It touches prosecutors, defendants, and criminal courts, especially in cases where a defendant argues a civil or agency process had to come first. On the ground, that argument loses its footing as a bar to a court's jurisdiction, and the rule reaches cases already filed as well as new ones.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 8, 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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Co-author authorized
  10. Considered in public hearing
  11. Vote taken in committee
  12. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  13. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  14. Committee report printed and distributed
  15. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  16. Laid before the Senate
  17. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Three day rule suspended
  20. Record vote
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the Senate
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to State Affairs
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  31. Left pending in committee
  32. Considered in formal meeting
  33. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  34. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  35. Committee report distributed
  36. Committee report sent to Calendars
  37. Considered in Calendars
  38. Placed on General State Calendar
  39. Read 2nd time
  40. Passed to 3rd reading
  41. Record vote RV#3063
  42. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote RV#3123
  46. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  47. House passage reported
  48. Reported enrolled
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Sent to the Governor
  52. Signed by the Governor
  53. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 127 yea · 10 nay

Senate · 26 yea · 4 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 21, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Bryan Hughes

Donors

GOPAC Election Fund$250KCRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100KCourt Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100K

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 Oct 23, 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.

GOPAC Election Fund$250,000.00

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 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: 101028838, 101071548.

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100,000.00

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$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 Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 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: 101028838, 101071548.

×

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$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 Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.

×

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.

Votes5

House May 21, 2025

Yea
127
Nay
10
Present, not voting
5
Absent
2
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3123

SB 1220 was passed by (Record 3123): 127 Yeas, 10 Nays, 5 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 127 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 5 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 20, 2025

Yea
121
Nay
10
Present, not voting
3
Absent
2
Excused
14
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3063

SB 1220 was passed to third reading by (Record 3063): 121 Yeas, 10 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 121 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 14 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
26
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1220 (Hughes) Relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state. (viva voce vote) (26-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez (26-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 26 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
26
Nay
4
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1220 (Hughes) Relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state. (viva voce vote) (26-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez (26-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 26 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 1220 (Hughes) Relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state. (viva voce vote) (26-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez (26-4) "Nays" Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Menéndez

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses10
For
8
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot1 registration
  • Fort Bend County District Attorney1 registration
  • Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office1 registration
  • Self4 registrations
  • Self; Chambers County District Attorney’s Office1 registration

On

  • Office of State Prosecuting Attorney1 registration
  • Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA)1 registration
Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 8, 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 11, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Brian BirdwellRSenate 22
Sponsors
John T. SmitheeRHouse 86

House committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 15 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Courts--General

Criminal Procedure--Pretrial Procedure

Ethics

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Admin. Procedure

Text

The text as introduced · 185 words

89R4339 JCG-D

By: Hughes
S.B. No. 1220

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial

courts of this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 23, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 23.002 to read as follows:

Sec. 23.002. SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF CRIMINAL TRIAL

COURTS NOT CONDITIONED ON EXHAUSTION OF CIVIL REMEDIES. Unless

expressly provided otherwise, the exhaustion of civil, including

administrative, remedies is not a prerequisite to the vesting in a

trial court of subject matter jurisdiction over a criminal action

for which the trial court would otherwise have jurisdiction under

other law.

SECTION 2. This Act applies to a criminal action commenced

before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.