Monitoring the Session

SB 993

Nichols Bill Lets Comptroller Officers Seek Tracking Device Orders

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Robert NicholsRSenate 3

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Straight to a district judge, no other police agency needed. The judge still approves each order.

The bill lets peace officers who work for the state comptroller ask a district judge directly for an order to install and use a mobile tracking device. It touches the comptroller's criminal investigators and the people they investigate, mostly in tax and fuel fraud cases. On the ground, comptroller officers no longer need another police agency to file the application, though a judge must still approve each order.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1993 by Rep. Cody Harris (Died in committee) and this bill (Did not pass). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1993 by Rep. Cody Harris (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.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 10, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Criminal Jurisprudence committee 7-2, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB993 · 2025-01-29

SOLD BY

Sen. Robert NicholsRSenate 3

ITEM

relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device.

WHAT IT DOES

Straight to a district judge, no other police agency needed. The judge still approves each order.

The bill lets peace officers who work for the state comptroller ask a district judge directly for an order to install and use a mobile tracking device. It touches the comptroller's criminal investigators and the people they investigate, mostly in tax and fuel fraud cases. On the ground, comptroller officers no longer need another police agency to file the application, though a judge must still approve each order.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 23, 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 Criminal Justice
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Vote taken in committee
  8. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  9. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  10. Committee report printed and distributed
  11. Placed on intent calendar
  12. Not again placed on intent calendar
  13. Placed on intent calendar
  14. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  15. Not again placed on intent calendar
  16. Laid before the Senate
  17. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Three day rule suspended
  20. Record vote
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the Senate
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  31. Left pending in committee
  32. Considered in formal meeting
  33. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  34. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  35. Committee report distributed
  36. Committee report sent to Calendars
  37. Considered in Calendars
  38. Placed on General State Calendar
FILED UNDER

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“(2) a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill adds the comptroller's own peace officers to the list of people who can seek court orders to put tracking devices on vehicles.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 27 yea · 3 nay

Sources

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

Robert Nichols

Donors

James I Perkins$25,000Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC$10KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10K

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 2, 2024 to Mar 25, 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.

James I Perkins$25,000.00
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC$10,000.00

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 5, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 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: 100965387.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 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: 100965387.

Money

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

×

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 5, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 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: 100965387.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 5, 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: 100965387.

Votes3

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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 993 (Nichols) Relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device. (viva voce vote) (27-3) "Nays" Gutierrez, Middleton, Sparks (27-3) "Nays" Gutierrez, Middleton, Sparks

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (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
27
Nay
3
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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 993 (Nichols) Relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device. (viva voce vote) (27-3) "Nays" Gutierrez, Middleton, Sparks (27-3) "Nays" Gutierrez, Middleton, Sparks

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

  • Yea: 27 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (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 993 (Nichols) Relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device. (viva voce vote) (27-3) "Nays" Gutierrez, Middleton, Sparks (27-3) "Nays" Gutierrez, Middleton, 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.

Witnesses21
For
17
Against
0
On
4
Names

For

  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)2 registrations
  • Dallas Police Assoc2 registrations
  • Gama Warden Peace Officers Association1 registration
  • Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #391 registration
  • San Antonio Police Officers Association1 registration
  • San antonio police officers association1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union3 registrations
  • Self; Lake Dallas ISD1 registration
  • Self; Prosper ISD Police Department1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)2 registrations
  • Texas Police Chiefs Association1 registration
  • Texas Police Chiefs Assosciation1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts3 registrations
Sources

21 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 23, 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 H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

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

88R HB 1993

by Rep. Cody Harris, different lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 2, 2023: Referred to Criminal Justice

Relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 29, 2025

05/26/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Cody HarrisRHouse 8

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Committee vote 7 aye, 2 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Criminal Justice · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Criminal Procedure--General

Law Enforcement

PEACE OFFICERS

COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Text

The text as introduced · 156 words

89R8350 JCG-F

By: Nichols
S.B. No. 993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the

comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and

use of a mobile tracking device.

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

SECTION 1. Article 18B.202(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,

is amended to read as follows:

(a) A district judge may issue an order for the installation

and use of a mobile tracking device only on the application of :

(1) an authorized peace officer ; or

(2) a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller .

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.