Monitoring the Session

SB 53

bill changing notices and filings in mental health commitment cases

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

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 certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

How papers get delivered and filed in commitment court.

The bill changes how notices are delivered and papers are filed in Texas mental health commitment court cases. It touches people facing commitment, the courts, county clerks, constables and sheriffs, and anyone filing papers in those cases. Notice can now go by constable or sheriff personal delivery or any court-directed method likely to reach the person, and filers no longer have to hand in original signed papers within 72 hours but must keep the originals and show them on request.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 64 (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.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB53 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

ITEM

relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness.

WHAT IT DOES

How papers get delivered and filed in commitment court.

The bill changes how notices are delivered and papers are filed in Texas mental health commitment court cases. It touches people facing commitment, the courts, county clerks, constables and sheriffs, and anyone filing papers in those cases. Notice can now go by constable or sheriff personal delivery or any court-directed method likely to reach the person, and filers no longer have to hand in original signed papers within 72 hours but must keep the originals and show them on request.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Health & Human Services
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  15. Laid before the Senate
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Meeting cancelled
  29. Posting rule suspended
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  33. Left pending in committee
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  36. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  37. Committee report distributed
  38. Committee report sent to Calendars
  39. Considered in Calendars
  40. Placed on General State Calendar
  41. Read 2nd time
  42. Passed to 3rd reading
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote RV#3458
  46. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  47. House passage reported
  48. Reported enrolled
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Sent to the Governor
  52. Signed by the Governor
  53. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 136 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 24, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 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

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60K

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.

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000.00
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
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

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.

Team
Sources

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.

Money

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
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

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.

Team
Sources

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.

Votes4

House May 24, 2025

Yea
136
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
9
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3458

SB 53 was passed by (Record 3458): 136 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 136 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 9 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 53 (Zaffirini) Relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 53 (Zaffirini) Relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 53 (Zaffirini) Relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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: Not printed

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

Witnesses10
For
10
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Dallas County Criminal District Attorney - John Creuzot1 registration
  • NAMI Texas2 registrations
  • Self2 registrations
  • Self; Harris County Sheriff’s Office1 registration
  • Self; Statutory Probate Courts of Texas1 registration
  • Statutory Probate Corts of Texas1 registration
  • Texas Psychological Association1 registration
  • The National Association of Social Workers- Texas Chapter1 registration
Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

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 E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 64

by Sen. Zaffirini, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Feb 15, 2023: Referred to Health & Human Services

Relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving persons with mental illness.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024

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.

Sponsors
Lulu FloresDHouse 51

House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Criminal Procedure--General

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

CONSTABLES

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

SHERIFFS

Text

The text as introduced · 401 words

89R338 EAS-D

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 53

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court

proceedings involving persons with mental illness.

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

SECTION 1. Section 571.013, Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 571.013. METHOD OF GIVING NOTICE. Except as otherwise

provided by this subtitle, notice required under this subtitle may

be given :

(1) by personal delivery of [ delivering ] a copy of the

notice or document by a constable or sheriff of the county; [ in

person ] or

(2) in another manner directed by the court that is

reasonably calculated to give actual notice.

SECTION 2. Section 571.014(c), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) A person may [ initially ] file a paper with the county

clerk by the use of reproduced, photocopied, or electronically

transmitted paper copies of [ if the person files ] the original

signed copies of the paper . A person who files a reproduced,

photocopied, or electronically transmitted paper must maintain

possession of the original signed copies of the paper and on request

shall make the original paper available for inspection by the

parties or the court [ with the clerk not later than the 72nd hour

after the hour on which the initial filing is made. If the 72-hour

period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the filing

period is extended until 4 p.m. on the first succeeding business

day. If extremely hazardous weather conditions exist or a disaster

occurs, the presiding judge or magistrate may by written order made

each day extend the filing period until 4 p.m. on the first

succeeding business day. The written order must declare that an

emergency exists because of the weather or the occurrence of a

disaster. If a person detained under this subtitle would otherwise

be released because the original signed copy of a paper is not filed

within the 72-hour period but for the extension of the filing period

under this section, the person may be detained until the expiration

of the extended filing period. This subsection does not affect

another provision of this subtitle requiring the release or

discharge of a person ].

SECTION 3. Section 571.014(d), Health and Safety Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.