SB 135
DPS Gets A Permanent Border Division With Cameras And Drones
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
New fee, fund, board or appointees
THE TEXT
…“Division of Homeland Security is created as a division of the”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill builds a new permanent division with a new appointed chief, and it shields the division from being abolished. The caption openly says it creates the division, so this is honest growth, not a hidden one.
New fee, fund, board or appointeesInitial 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 creation, operation, and powers of the Texas Division of Homeland Security.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
It can’t be abolished, and it can direct other state agencies in operations it leads.
The bill creates a Texas Division of Homeland Security inside the Department of Public Safety, run by a chief the department's director appoints, and says the division may not be abolished. It allows the division to run border security operations along the Texas-Mexico border, including law enforcement, intelligence work, surveillance with cameras and drones, interdiction, coordination of local, state and federal agencies, and training. On the ground, DPS gets a permanent new border unit with its own chief and authority to direct other state agencies in operations it leads, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate Border Security committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB135 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the creation, operation, and powers of the Texas Division of Homeland Security.
WHAT IT DOES
It can’t be abolished, and it can direct other state agencies in operations it leads.
The bill creates a Texas Division of Homeland Security inside the Department of Public Safety, run by a chief the department's director appoints, and says the division may not be abolished. It allows the division to run border security operations along the Texas-Mexico border, including law enforcement, intelligence work, surveillance with cameras and drones, interdiction, coordination of local, state and federal agencies, and training. On the ground, DPS gets a permanent new border unit with its own chief and authority to direct other state agencies in operations it leads, starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 55%
THE TEXT
…“Division of Homeland Security is created as a division of the”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill builds a new permanent division with a new appointed chief, and it shields the division from being abolished. The caption openly says it creates the division, so this is honest growth, not a hidden one.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Border Security
FILED UNDER
GOVERNMENT GROWTH UNDER A CONSERVATIVE BANNER
THE TEXT
“(c) The director shall appoint a chief to be the division's”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates a new division inside DPS with a new appointed chief administrative officer.
THE TEXT
…“smuggling of individuals and controlled substances, using cameras,”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill authorizes the new division to surveil the border with cameras, unmanned aircraft and other technologies.
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 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$135,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$135,000.00
- Cash
- $129,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $135,000.00
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 · Sep 12, 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.
Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.
Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC$116,000.00
Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC
$116,000.00
- Cash
- $110,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $116,000.00
Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.
Bryan Hughes Campaign$100,000.00
Bryan Hughes Campaign
$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 · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101073278.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$135,000.00
- Cash
- $129,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $135,000.00
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 · Sep 12, 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.
Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.
Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC
$116,000.00
- Cash
- $110,000.00
- Paid by others
- $6,000.00
- Total
- $116,000.00
Also funds 30 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.
Bryan Hughes Campaign
$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 · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101073278.
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 Nov 12, 2024
02/03/2025 S Referred to Border Security
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Border Security · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Aliens
Criminal Procedure--General
Law Enforcement
State Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Newly Proposed
BORDER
PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF
TEXAS HOMELAND SECURITY DIVISION OF THE DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY (VV63H)
Text
The text as introduced · 264 words
89R2560 LRM-D By: Hall S.B. No. 135 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the creation, operation, and powers of the Texas Division of Homeland Security. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter B-2 to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER B-2. TEXAS DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY Sec. 411.0281. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "division" means the Texas Division of Homeland Security created under this subchapter. Sec. 411.0282. CREATION OF DIVISION; CHIEF. (a) The Texas Division of Homeland Security is created as a division of the department. (b) Notwithstanding Section 411.015, the division may not be abolished. (c) The director shall appoint a chief to be the division's chief administrative officer. Sec. 411.0283. BORDER OPERATIONS. The division may conduct border security operations along the Texas-Mexico border, including: (1) law enforcement operations; (2) intelligence gathering, analysis, and dissemination; (3) coordination and command of state agencies in border security operations led by the division; (4) surveillance and detection of criminal activity, including illegal entry of individuals from foreign nations and the smuggling of individuals and controlled substances, using cameras, unmanned aircraft, and other technologies; (5) interdiction of individuals committing criminal activity described by Subdivision (4); (6) coordination of local, state, and federal agencies conducting border security operations, including tactical operations such as special response teams, brush teams, and special weapons and tactics teams; and (7) training and education programs for the professional development of employees and agency partners carrying out border security operations. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.