SB 873
no need to exhaust civil remedies before a criminal case
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 subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state over certain criminal actions.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
One line added to Section 571.171 of the Government Code.
The bill adds a line to Section 571.171 of the Government Code saying that section does not require anyone to first use up civil or administrative remedies before a criminal trial court can hear a criminal case it would otherwise have power to hear. It touches prosecutors, defendants and trial courts in cases where that section could have been read to require a civil or administrative step first. The rule applies to criminal cases filed before, on or after September 1, 2025, so pending cases are covered too.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 131 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 131 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Jan 22, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB873 · 2025-01-22
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state over certain criminal actions.
WHAT IT DOES
One line added to Section 571.171 of the Government Code.
The bill adds a line to Section 571.171 of the Government Code saying that section does not require anyone to first use up civil or administrative remedies before a criminal trial court can hear a criminal case it would otherwise have power to hear. It touches prosecutors, defendants and trial courts in cases where that section could have been read to require a civil or administrative step first. The rule applies to criminal cases filed before, on or after September 1, 2025, so pending cases are covered too.
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 State Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Derived from itemized gifts, Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
$353,800 raised since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. blank in the state's data, consistent with zero. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$502,039 spent since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$731,044 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 Jan 22, 2025
02/13/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
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 · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 987 by Bettencourt (duplicate)
Subjects
Courts--Prosecuting Attorneys
Criminal Procedure--General
Elections--General
Text
The text as introduced · 131 words
89R4340 CJD-D By: Birdwell S.B. No. 873 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial courts of this state over certain criminal actions. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 571.171, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (d) This section does not require the exhaustion of civil, including administrative, remedies as a prerequisite to the vesting in a trial court of subject matter jurisdiction over a criminal action for which the trial court would otherwise have jurisdiction under other law. SECTION 2. This Act applies to a criminal action commenced before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.