Monitoring the Session

SB 1451

bill raising the penalty for stealing a check

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

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 increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Class A misdemeanor becomes a state jail felony.

The bill raises the penalty for stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. It touches people accused of that existing offense under Penal Code Section 32.24. Starting September 1, 2025, new cases under that section carry state jail felony exposure instead of misdemeanor exposure.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1451 · 2025-02-19

SOLD BY

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

ITEM

relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order.

WHAT IT DOES

Class A misdemeanor becomes a state jail felony.

The bill raises the penalty for stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order from a Class A misdemeanor to a state jail felony. It touches people accused of that existing offense under Penal Code Section 32.24. Starting September 1, 2025, new cases under that section carry state jail felony exposure instead of misdemeanor exposure.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 10, 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 Criminal Justice
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Vote taken in committee
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  10. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  11. Committee report printed and distributed
  12. Placed on intent calendar
  13. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  14. Vote recorded in Journal
  15. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  16. Vote recorded in Journal
  17. Three day rule suspended
  18. Record vote
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote
  22. Statement(s) submitted
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
  27. Referred directly to subcommittee by chair
  28. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  29. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  31. Left pending in subcommittee
  32. Recalled from subcommittee
  33. Considered in formal meeting
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  35. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  36. Committee report distributed
  37. Committee report sent to Calendars
  38. Considered in Calendars
  39. Placed on General State Calendar
  40. Read 2nd time
  41. Passed to 3rd reading
  42. Record vote RV#3258
  43. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  44. Read 3rd time
  45. Passed
  46. Record vote RV#3336
  47. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  48. House passage reported
  49. Reported enrolled
  50. Signed in the Senate
  51. Signed in the House
  52. Sent to the Governor
  53. Signed by the Governor
  54. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 96 yea · 39 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 2 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Mar 19, 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

Pete Flores

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55KMorris Jaffe$25,000Justin Jaffe$25,000

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 12, 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$55,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 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: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Morris Jaffe$25,000.00
Justin Jaffe$25,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

Cash
$55,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$55,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 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: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Votes5

House May 23, 2025

Yea
96
Nay
39
Present, not voting
3
Absent
5
Excused
7
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3336

SB 1451 was passed by (Record 3336): 96 Yeas, 39 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 96 (published)
  • Nay: 39 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 22, 2025

Yea
95
Nay
38
Present, not voting
2
Absent
6
Excused
9
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3258

SB 1451 was passed to third reading by (Record 3258): 95 Yeas, 38 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 95 (published)
  • Nay: 38 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 9 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 19, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 19, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Flores moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1451 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Mar 19, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
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.

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

Sources

Senator Flores moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1451 at this time on its second reading: SB 1451, Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order. The motion prevailed. Senators Cook and Eckhardt asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

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.

Witnesses24
For
21
Against
1
On
2
Names

For

  • Bank of America1 registration
  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
  • Credit Union Coalition of Texas2 registrations
  • Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot1 registration
  • Game Warden Peace Officers Association1 registration
  • Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP #391 registration
  • Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • JPMorgan Chase Holdings LLC1 registration
  • JPMorgan Chase Holdings, LLC1 registration
  • San Antonio Police Department1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union1 registration
  • Self; Texas Bankers Association2 registrations
  • Sheriffs’ Association of Texas1 registration
  • Texas Bankers Association1 registration
  • Texas Mortgage Bankers Association1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)2 registrations
  • Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • Self2 registrations
Sources

24 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 10, 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 19, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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.

Sponsors
David CookRHouse 96

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Committee vote 7 aye, 3 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Criminal Justice · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Crimes--Against Property

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Criminal Procedure--General

CHECKS

Text

The text as introduced · 168 words

89R10172 MZM-D

By: Flores
S.B. No. 1451

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of

stealing or receiving a stolen check or similar sight order.

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

SECTION 1. Section 32.24(b), Penal Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony

[ Class A misdemeanor ].

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.

An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect on the date the offense is committed,

and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For

purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the

effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred

before that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.