Monitoring the SessionSB 297
Died in committee
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
relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Client held more than 50 miles away? Gas, food and lodging covered.
The bill adds travel costs to the list of expenses that court-appointed lawyers in noncapital criminal cases get reimbursed for when their client is held more than 50 miles from the court. It covers trips to meet the client confidentially, the food and lodging tied to those trips, and the costs of confidential remote meetings. Appointed lawyers, not public defender office lawyers, can get these costs repaid under the same approval rules used in capital cases, starting with expenses incurred on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 1046 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1046 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate Criminal Justice committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-SB297 · 2024-11-12
relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding.
Client held more than 50 miles away? Gas, food and lodging covered.
The bill adds travel costs to the list of expenses that court-appointed lawyers in noncapital criminal cases get reimbursed for when their client is held more than 50 miles from the court. It covers trips to meet the client confidentially, the food and lodging tied to those trips, and the costs of confidential remote meetings. Appointed lawyers, not public defender office lawyers, can get these costs repaid under the same approval rules used in capital cases, starting with expenses incurred on or after September 1, 2025.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
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.
$60,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 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: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.
$35,000.00
Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 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: 100983698, 101057700.
$25,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 2024. 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: 100983698.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$60,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 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: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.
$35,000.00
Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 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: 100983698, 101057700.
$25,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 2024. 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: 100983698.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Perry, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 3, 2023: Referred to Criminal Justice
Relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024
02/03/2025 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
HB 3449 by Canales (identical)
Criminal Procedure--Defense Counsel
Lawyers
Salaries & Expenses
TRAVEL
The text as introduced · 257 words
89R790 AJZ-D By: Perry S.B. No. 297 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the reimbursement of expenses to certain counsel appointed to represent a defendant in a criminal proceeding. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 26.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: (d) A counsel in a noncapital case, other than an attorney with a public defender's office, appointed to represent a defendant under this code shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses, including expenses for : (1) investigation ; (2) [ and for ] mental health and other experts ; and (3) if the defendant is confined in a correctional facility located more than 50 miles from the court in which the defendant's proceeding is pending: (A) travel to the defendant's location for a confidential communication and food and lodging related to that travel; and (B) any costs associated with remotely entering into a confidential communication with the defendant . (d-1) Expenses under Subsection (d) incurred with prior court approval shall be reimbursed in the same manner provided for capital cases by Articles 26.052(f) and (g), and expenses under Subsection (d) incurred without prior court approval shall be reimbursed in the manner provided for capital cases by Article 26.052(h). SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to expenses incurred on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.