SB 739: Insurance Investigators Join The List For Tracking And Communications Access

Caption

relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.

Caption from analyzed text · version F.

Summary

The statement of intent cites “speed and efficiency.” Investigators seek tracking access without borrowing other agencies’ officers.

The bill adds investigators commissioned by the Texas insurance commissioner to the list of officers who may use the state's rules for installing tracking equipment and getting access to electronic communications. It also restates the existing list, keeping arson investigators and school and university police on it. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas Department of Insurance fraud investigators can seek tracking and communications access themselves instead of relying on other agencies' officers.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Lois Kolkhorst (R) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Salman Bhojani (D) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB739 · 2025-01-08

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

ITEM

relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.

WHAT IT DOES

The statement of intent cites “speed and efficiency.” Investigators seek tracking access without borrowing other agencies’ officers.

The bill adds investigators commissioned by the Texas insurance commissioner to the list of officers who may use the state's rules for installing tracking equipment and getting access to electronic communications. It also restates the existing list, keeping arson investigators and school and university police on it. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas Department of Insurance fraud investigators can seek tracking and communications access themselves instead of relying on other agencies' officers.

CHARGES

[x] PITCH: SURVEILLANCE STATE

ACTUALLY

“(M) an investigator commissioned by the”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill widens the group of state officers allowed to install tracking equipment and access electronic communications by adding insurance-fraud investigators.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 18, 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

Jan 8, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Jan 8, 2025Filed
Feb 7, 2025Read first time
Feb 7, 2025Referred to Criminal Justice
Apr 22, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 22, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 22, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 22, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 23, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Apr 23, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 23, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 1, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
May 1, 2025Laid before the Senate
May 1, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
May 1, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 1, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 1, 2025Record vote
May 1, 2025Read 3rd time
May 1, 2025Passed
May 1, 2025Record vote
May 1, 2025Reported engrossed
May 1, 2025Received from the Senate
May 2, 2025Read first time
May 2, 2025Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
May 8, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 8, 2025Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.
May 12, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 12, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 15, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 15, 2025Committee report distributed
May 15, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 16, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 20, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 20, 2025Read 2nd time
May 20, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 20, 2025Record vote RV#3108
May 20, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 21, 2025Read 3rd time
May 21, 2025Passed
May 21, 2025Record vote RV#3155
May 21, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 21, 2025House passage reported
May 21, 2025Reported enrolled
May 22, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 22, 2025Signed in the House
May 22, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Filed without the Governor's signature
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“(M) an investigator commissioned by the”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill widens the group of state officers allowed to install tracking equipment and access electronic communications by adding insurance-fraud investigators.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 96 yea · 50 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 21, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 1, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60K Border Health PAC$35K SRR Ranches, LLC$30K

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 11, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 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: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 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: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 19, 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: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 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: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes5

House May 21, 2025

Yea: 96
Nay: 50
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 0
Excused: 2

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3155

SB 739 was passed by (Record 3155): 96 Yeas, 50 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 96 (published)
Nay: 50 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

House May 20, 2025

Yea: 99
Nay: 33
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 2
Excused: 13

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3108

SB 739 was passed to third reading by (Record 3108): 99 Yeas, 33 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 99 (published)
Nay: 33 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 13 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 30
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

SparksNay

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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 739 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 30
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

SparksNay

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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 739 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 1, 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 739 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

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.

Witnesses4

For: 3
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Dallas County Criminal District Attorney - John Creuzot1 registration
Self; Chambers County District Attorney’s Office1 registration
Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration

On

Texas Department of Insurance1 registration

Sources

4 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 18, 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 F by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 8, 2025

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 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

HB 1801 by Bhojani (identical)

Subjects

City Government--Employees/Officers

County Government--Employees/Officers

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Criminal Procedure--General

Electronic Information Systems

Insurance--General

Law Enforcement

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

PEACE OFFICERS

INSURANCE, COMMISSIONER OF

Text

The text as introduced · 305 words

89R5903 JCG-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 739

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the definition of authorized peace officer for purposes

of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking

equipment and access to certain communications.

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

SECTION 1. Article 18B.001(1), Code of Criminal Procedure,

as amended by Chapters 901 (H.B. 4906) and 950 (S.B. 1727), Acts of

the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and

amended to read as follows:

(1) "Authorized peace officer" means:

(A) a sheriff or deputy sheriff;

(B) a constable or deputy constable;

(C) a marshal or police officer of a

municipality;

(D) a ranger or officer commissioned by the

Public Safety Commission or the director of the department;

(E) an investigator of a prosecutor's office;

(F) a law enforcement agent of the Texas

Alcoholic Beverage Commission;

(G) a law enforcement officer commissioned by the

Parks and Wildlife Commission;

(H) an enforcement officer appointed by the

inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under

Section 493.019, Government Code;

(I) a law enforcement officer appointed by the

inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department under

Section 242.102, Human Resources Code;

(J) an investigator commissioned by the attorney

general under Section 402.009, Government Code;

(K) a member of an arson investigating unit

commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state;

(L) [ or (K) ] a peace officer commissioned under

Section 37.081 or 51.203, Education Code ; or

(M) an investigator commissioned by the

commissioner of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code .

SECTION 2. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails

over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,

relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted

codes.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

House May 21, 2025

House May 20, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

For

On

Companion