SB 1637: deadly conduct exception for on-duty peace officers

Caption

relating to an exception to the application of the offense of deadly conduct for certain peace officers discharging official duties.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

If they reasonably believed it was justified under 9.31, 9.32 or 9.33.

The bill adds an exception to the Texas offense of deadly conduct for peace officers who were on duty at the time. The exception covers an officer who reasonably believed the conduct was necessary or justified under the state's existing self-defense and defense-of-others sections, 9.31, 9.32 and 9.33. It reaches back to conduct that happened before the law takes effect on September 1, 2025, but it leaves final convictions already on the books in place.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote Jun 1, 2025: the Senate concurred in the House amendments. 1 day before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1637 · 2025-02-25

SOLD BY

Sen. Phil KingRSenate 10

ITEM

relating to an exception to the application of the offense of deadly conduct for certain peace officers discharging official duties.

WHAT IT DOES

If they reasonably believed it was justified under 9.31, 9.32 or 9.33.

The bill adds an exception to the Texas offense of deadly conduct for peace officers who were on duty at the time. The exception covers an officer who reasonably believed the conduct was necessary or justified under the state's existing self-defense and defense-of-others sections, 9.31, 9.32 and 9.33. It reaches back to conduct that happened before the law takes effect on September 1, 2025, but it leaves final convictions already on the books in place.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 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

Feb 25, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 25, 2025Filed
Mar 11, 2025Read first time
Mar 11, 2025Referred to Criminal Justice
Mar 25, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 25, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 25, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 25, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 1, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 1, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 3, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 3, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 3, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 8, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 9, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 9, 2025Record vote
Apr 9, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 9, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Alvarado
Apr 9, 2025Amended
Apr 9, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 9, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 9, 2025Record vote
Apr 9, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 9, 2025Record vote
Apr 9, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 9, 2025Passed
Apr 9, 2025Record vote
Apr 9, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 10, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 17, 2025Read first time
Apr 17, 2025Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Apr 24, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 28, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 28, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 29, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 29, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion CSHB 2436
Apr 29, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 29, 2025Amended 1-Moody and Anchía
Apr 29, 2025Amendment tabled 2-Manuel
Apr 29, 2025Record vote RV#812
Apr 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 29, 2025Passed to 3rd reading as amended
Apr 29, 2025Record vote RV#813
Apr 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 30, 2025Passed
Apr 30, 2025Record vote RV#943
Apr 30, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025House passage as amended reported
May 5, 2025House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
May 5, 2025Read
May 5, 2025Senate refuses to concur
May 5, 2025Senate requests conference committee
May 5, 2025Senate appoints conferees
May 5, 2025Senate refuses to concur-reported
May 5, 2025Senate requests conference committee-reported
May 5, 2025Senate appoints conferees-reported
May 19, 2025House grants request for conference committee
May 19, 2025House appoints conferees
May 20, 2025House grants request for conf comm-reported
May 20, 2025House appoints conferees-reported
May 25, 2025Conference committee report filed
May 26, 2025Conf. Comm. Report distributed
Jun 1, 2025Senate discharges conferees
Jun 1, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
Jun 1, 2025Record vote
Jun 1, 2025Reported enrolled
Jun 2, 2025Senate discharges conferees-reported
Jun 2, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
Jun 2, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 2, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 3, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 102 yea · 41 nay

Senate · 27 yea · 3 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 9, 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

Phil King

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$30KErle Nye, Jr.$20,000Gideon Powell$20,000

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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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$30,300.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,300.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $300.00
Total: $30,300.00

fundraiser $300.00

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 12, 2024 to Sep 26, 2025. 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: 100982783, 101007450, 101026985.

Erle Nye, Jr.$20,000.00

Gideon Powell$20,000.00

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$30,300.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $300.00
Total: $30,300.00

fundraiser $300.00

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 12, 2024 to Sep 26, 2025. 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: 100982783, 101007450, 101026985.

Votes9

Senate Jun 1, 2025

Yea: 28
Nay: 3
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 King moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1637. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.

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

Yea: 28 (published)
Nay: 3 (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.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea: 102
Nay: 41
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 4

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 943

SB 1637 was passed by (Record 943): 102 Yeas, 41 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 102 (published)
Nay: 41 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea: 103
Nay: 41
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 3
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 813

SB 1637, as amended, was passed to third reading by (Record 813): 103 Yeas, 41 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 103 (published)
Nay: 41 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea: 85
Nay: 61
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 812

Representative Hefner moved to table Amendment No. 2. The motion to table prevailed by (Record 812): 85 Yeas, 61 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 85 (published)
Nay: 61 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 3
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 1

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 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 3 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 3
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 1

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Huffman, on behalf of Senator King, moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1637 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.

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

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 3 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 3
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 1

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

CSSB 1637 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.

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

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 3 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: 1

Names

KingExcused

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

The amendment to CSSB 1637 was read and was adopted 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: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Yea: 23
Nay: 7
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 1

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Huffman, on behalf of Senator King, moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1637 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 1637, Relating to the prosecution of the offense of deadly conduct. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 7.

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

Yea: 23 (published)
Nay: 7 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses40

For: 20
Against: 18
On: 2

Names

For

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas1 registration
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
Dallas National Latino Law Enforcement Organization1 registration
Dallas Police Assoc1 registration
Gama Warden Peace Officers Association1 registration
San Antonio Police Department1 registration
San Antonio Police Officers Association2 registrations
San antonio police officers association1 registration
San Marcos POA1 registration
San Marcos Police Officers’ Association1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Austin Police Association1 registration
Self; Fort worth police officers assn and CLEAT1 registration
Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union3 registrations
Self; Lakeway Police Departmenr1 registration
Self; Texas Attorney General Peace Officers Association1 registration
Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration

Against

American Civil Liberties Union of Texas1 registration
Dallas Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot1 registration
Self8 registrations
Self; ACT 4 SA Action Fund1 registration
Self; Austin Area Urban League1 registration
Self; Austin justice coalition1 registration
Self; Equity Action1 registration
Self; Texas Jail Project1 registration
Texas Appleseed1 registration
Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration
Travis County District Attorney’s Office1 registration

On

Self1 registration
Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA)1 registration

Sources

40 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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 F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 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 25, 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.

Companion

HB 2436 by Hefner (identical)

Subjects

Crimes--Against Persons--General

Fire Fighters & Police--General

PEACE OFFICERS

Text

The text as introduced · 170 words

89R8929 LHC-F

By: King
S.B. No. 1637

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an exception to the application of the offense of deadly

conduct for certain peace officers discharging official duties.

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

SECTION 1. Section 22.05, Penal Code, is amended by adding

Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(f) It is an exception to the application of this section

that:

(1) at the time of the offense the actor was engaged in

the actual discharge of official duties as a peace officer; and

(2) the actor reasonably believed the actor's conduct

was necessary or justified under Section 9.31, 9.32, or 9.33.

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

conduct that occurs before, on, or after the effective date of this

Act, except that a final conviction for an offense that exists on

the effective date of this Act is unaffected by this Act.

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

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Senate Jun 1, 2025

House Apr 30, 2025

House Apr 29, 2025

House Apr 29, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

Senate Apr 9, 2025

For

Against

On

Companion