SB 248
border trespass cases can go to an associate judge
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's salary.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
For people not lawfully present in the United States.
The bill lets judges whose area includes a Texas-Mexico border county send criminal trespass cases against people not lawfully present in the United States to an associate judge serving the border region. It lets commissioners courts in those border counties ask the Texas Judicial Council to pay back all or part of the salaries of those associate judges and of court interpreters who work these cases, using money set aside for border security. Nothing is required, but border counties gain a way to move these trespass cases to associate judges and to seek state money for the staff who handle them.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate Finance committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB248 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's salary.
WHAT IT DOES
For people not lawfully present in the United States.
The bill lets judges whose area includes a Texas-Mexico border county send criminal trespass cases against people not lawfully present in the United States to an associate judge serving the border region. It lets commissioners courts in those border counties ask the Texas Judicial Council to pay back all or part of the salaries of those associate judges and of court interpreters who work these cases, using money set aside for border security. Nothing is required, but border counties gain a way to move these trespass cases to associate judges and to seek state money for the staff who handle them.
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 Finance
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 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.
TeamSources
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.
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.
TeamSources
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.
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 Finance
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 · Finance · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 1328 by Guillen (identical)
Subjects
MEXICO
Aliens
Courts--Judges
Courts--Personnel
Salaries & Expenses
BORDER
TRESPASS
TEXAS JUDICIAL COUNCIL
Text
The text as introduced · 330 words
89R3054 TSS-F By: Flores S.B. No. 248 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's salary. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 54A.004, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (d) The commissioners court of a county located in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, may submit a request to the Texas Judicial Council for reimbursement of all or part of the salary paid to an associate judge to whom judges in the county give preference when referring cases under Section 54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement this subsection. SECTION 2. Section 54A.006, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) A judge whose jurisdiction includes a county located in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, may refer to an associate judge who serves a county located in the region any matter arising out of a criminal case involving alleged conduct constituting a criminal trespass offense under Section 30.05, Penal Code, by a person not lawfully present in the United States. SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 57, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 57.003 to read as follows: Sec. 57.003. COMPENSATION. The commissioners court of a county located in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by Section 2056.002, may submit a request to the Texas Judicial Council for reimbursement of all or part of the salary paid to an interpreter for services rendered in a case referred under Section 54A.006(a-1) to be paid from money appropriated to the council for border security purposes. The council may adopt rules to implement this section. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.