SB 1947
Relating to the appointment of an interpreter for a court proceeding.
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the appointment of an interpreter for a court proceeding.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The bill adds the words "including a municipal or justice court" to the state law that requires courts to appoint interpreters when a party or witness asks for one.
The bill adds the words "including a municipal or justice court" to the state law that requires courts to appoint interpreters when a party or witness asks for one. It touches municipal and justice courts, along with people in those courts who are deaf or hard of hearing or who do not speak English. Those local courts now clearly carry the same duty as other courts to appoint a certified or licensed interpreter or CART provider on request, and the same option to appoint one on their own.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 5, 2025 and referred to the Senate Criminal Justice committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1947 · 2025-03-05
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the appointment of an interpreter for a court proceeding.
WHAT IT DOES
The bill adds the words "including a municipal or justice court" to the state law that requires courts to appoint interpreters when a party or witness asks for one.
The bill adds the words "including a municipal or justice court" to the state law that requires courts to appoint interpreters when a party or witness asks for one. It touches municipal and justice courts, along with people in those courts who are deaf or hard of hearing or who do not speak English. Those local courts now clearly carry the same duty as other courts to appoint a certified or licensed interpreter or CART provider on request, and the same option to appoint one on their own.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Criminal Justice
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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.
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Killam Development Ltd.
$72,700.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $62,700.00
- Total
- $72,700.00
Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.
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 Mar 5, 2025
03/17/2025 S Referred to Criminal Justice
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
Courts--Justice
Courts--Municipal
Courts--Personnel
SIGN LANGUAGE & SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
Text
The text as introduced · 230 words
89R9094 AMF-D By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1947 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the appointment of an interpreter for a court proceeding. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 57.002(a) and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) A court , including a municipal or justice court, shall appoint a certified court interpreter or a certified CART provider for an individual who has a hearing impairment or a licensed court interpreter for an individual who can hear but does not comprehend or communicate in English if a motion for the appointment of an interpreter or provider is filed by a party or requested by a witness in a civil or criminal proceeding in the court. (b) A court , including a municipal or justice court, may, on its own motion, appoint a certified court interpreter or a certified CART provider for an individual who has a hearing impairment or a licensed court interpreter for an individual who can hear but does not comprehend or communicate in English. SECTION 2. 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.