88R HB 476
by Rep. Jolanda Jones, same lead author · Did not pass · reworked
Introduced textLast action, May 3, 2023: Received from the House
Relating to the release of certain defendants detained in jail pending trial.
Caption, 88R bill history
HB 177
Jones Bill Frees Defendants Jailed Longer Than Their Maximum Sentence
Filed
Verdict: No flags
No flagsInitial review
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
Caption
relating to the release of certain defendants detained in jail pending trial.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Held past the max sentence you could get, good-conduct credit counted? You walk before trial.
This bill bars a jail from holding a person awaiting trial longer than the maximum sentence they could get if convicted, counting the good-conduct credit they could have earned in county jail. It covers people charged with a Class B misdemeanor or anything more serious, but not people being evaluated for competency or under a competency commitment order. Defendants arrested on or after September 1, 2027, who have sat in jail as long as their maximum possible sentence would have to be released before trial.
Labels
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 476 (Did not pass) and 89R HB 413 (Vetoed). Checked against 88R and 89R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R HB 413 (Vetoed). Filed in 3 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 3. Filed in 3 sessions: 88R, 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
Receipt
The receipt
90R-HB177 · 2026-11-09
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the release of certain defendants detained in jail pending trial.
WHAT IT DOES
Held past the max sentence you could get, good-conduct credit counted? You walk before trial.
This bill bars a jail from holding a person awaiting trial longer than the maximum sentence they could get if convicted, counting the good-conduct credit they could have earned in county jail. It covers people charged with a Class B misdemeanor or anything more serious, but not people being evaluated for competency or under a competency commitment order. Defendants arrested on or after September 1, 2027, who have sat in jail as long as their maximum possible sentence would have to be released before trial.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“of offense may not be detained in jail pending trial for a”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill requires pretrial release once jail time, plus possible good-conduct credit, reaches the maximum sentence for the charged offense, which widens release before trial.
No flags
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 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.
Carrin Patman$15,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$9,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$9,000.00
- Cash
- $9,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $9,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 1, 2024 to Apr 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: 100986920, 101030360, 101059410.
Houston Federation of Teachers COPE$7,000.00
Houston Federation of Teachers COPE
$7,000.00
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Dec 11, 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: 100986920.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$9,000.00
- Cash
- $9,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $9,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 1, 2024 to Apr 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: 100986920, 101030360, 101059410.
Houston Federation of Teachers COPE
$7,000.00
- Cash
- $7,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $7,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Dec 11, 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: 100986920.
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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
FILED BEFORE
Filed 3 times: 88R, 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.
89R HB 413
by Rep. Jolanda Jones, same lead author · Vetoed · same text
Introduced textLast action, Jun 22, 2025: Vetoed by the Governor
Relating to the release of certain defendants detained in jail pending trial.
Caption, 89R bill history
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 H Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:31 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Subjects
Criminal Procedure--Pretrial Procedure
Criminal Procedure--Sentencing & Punishment
Text
The text as introduced · 266 words
By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 177 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the release of certain defendants detained in jail pending trial. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 17, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 17.1511 to read as follows: Art. 17.1511. RELEASE OF CERTAIN DEFENDANTS DETAINED LONGER THAN POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT. (a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by Subsection (b), a defendant charged with an offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or any higher category of offense may not be detained in jail pending trial for a cumulative period that, when considering the maximum credit toward the defendant's sentence to which the defendant would be entitled to earn as a result of the defendant's conduct while confined in the county jail of the county in which the offense occurred, exceeds the maximum term of confinement that may be imposed on conviction of the offense of which the defendant is accused. (b) This article does not apply to a defendant who is being evaluated for competency or subject to an order of commitment issued under Chapter 46B. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a person who is arrested on or after the effective date of this Act. A person arrested before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the person was arrested, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.