SB 2837
bill giving National Park Service officers more Texas power
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 state law enforcement authority of federal National Park Service law enforcement officers.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
More authority under Texas law. Still not Texas peace officers.
The bill gives federal National Park Service law enforcement officers more power under Texas law, while still saying they are not Texas peace officers. On top of their existing arrest, search, and seizure powers for state offenses in national parks and recreation areas, they could serve any Texas arrest or search warrant and use the powers Texas peace officers have under the state's mental health emergency detention and commitment chapters. Federal park rangers in Texas could serve state warrants and take people into custody for mental health detention, effective immediately if two-thirds of each house votes for it, or September 1, 2025 otherwise.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2837 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the state law enforcement authority of federal National Park Service law enforcement officers.
WHAT IT DOES
More authority under Texas law. Still not Texas peace officers.
The bill gives federal National Park Service law enforcement officers more power under Texas law, while still saying they are not Texas peace officers. On top of their existing arrest, search, and seizure powers for state offenses in national parks and recreation areas, they could serve any Texas arrest or search warrant and use the powers Texas peace officers have under the state's mental health emergency detention and commitment chapters. Federal park rangers in Texas could serve state warrants and take people into custody for mental health detention, effective immediately if two-thirds of each house votes for it, or September 1, 2025 otherwise.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 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
Companion
HB 1866 by Lujan (identical)
Subjects
Criminal Procedure--General
Historic Preservation & Museums
Law Enforcement
Parks & Wildlife--Parks
State Agencies, Boards & Commissions
ARREST WARRANTS
SEARCH WARRANTS
Text
The text as introduced · 240 words
89R6035 JCG-D By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2837 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the state law enforcement authority of federal National Park Service law enforcement officers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 2A.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: (d) A commissioned law enforcement officer of the National Park Service is not a peace officer under the laws of this state but has : (1) the powers of arrest, search, and seizure as to any offense under the laws of this state committed in a national park or national recreation area ; (2) the power to execute any arrest warrant or search warrant issued under the laws of this state; and (3) the powers granted to a peace officer by Chapters 573 and 574, Health and Safety Code . (d-1) For purposes of Subsection (d) [ In this subsection ], "national park or national recreation area" means a national park or national recreation area included in the National Park System as defined by 54 U.S.C. Section 100102. 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.