Monitoring the Session

HB 414

Prison Camera Bill Gives The Department Until 2029

Filed

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139
Why it's charged
Delayed start

THE TEXT

…“Government Code, as added by this Act, until September 1, 2029.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The camera duty does not bind the department until September 1, 2029. That is after the November 7, 2028 election and two years after the session. The bill still requires the cameras, just later.

Delayed start

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to requiring security cameras in common areas of facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Cameras in every common area, no blind spots. The duty waits until September 1, 2029!

The bill orders the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to install and keep up high-quality security cameras in every common area of the facilities it runs, positioned to eliminate blind spots. It touches the prison system, its staff, and inmates, and it exempts cells, restrooms, showers and other places where inmates have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The law takes effect in September 2027, but the department does not have to comply until September 1, 2029.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB414 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139

ITEM

relating to requiring security cameras in common areas of facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

WHAT IT DOES

Cameras in every common area, no blind spots. The duty waits until September 1, 2029!

The bill orders the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to install and keep up high-quality security cameras in every common area of the facilities it runs, positioned to eliminate blind spots. It touches the prison system, its staff, and inmates, and it exempts cells, restrooms, showers and other places where inmates have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The law takes effect in September 2027, but the department does not have to comply until September 1, 2029.

CHARGES

[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 75%

THE TEXT

…“Government Code, as added by this Act, until September 1, 2029.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The camera duty does not bind the department until September 1, 2029. That is after the November 7, 2028 election and two years after the session. The bill still requires the cameras, just later.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
FILED UNDER

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“(a) The department shall install and maintain security cameras in”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill requires video surveillance across every common area of state prison facilities.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Charlene Ward Johnson

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$33KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$33KLegacy 44$25K

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 5, 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.

Texas Sands PAC$33,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$33,000.00

Cash
$33,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$33,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Jan 28, 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: 100981582, 101039497.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$32,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$32,500.00

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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 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: 101008678, 101031228, 101035430, 101039497, 101068178.

Legacy 44$25,343.19

Legacy 44

$25,343.19

Cash
$4,500.00
Paid by others
$20,843.19
Total
$25,343.19
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00mailer $9,036.44digital $1,806.75

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 9, 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: 100981582, 101031228, 101039497, 101073019.

Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$33,000.00

Cash
$33,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$33,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Jan 28, 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: 100981582, 101039497.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$32,500.00

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 · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 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: 101008678, 101031228, 101035430, 101039497, 101068178.

×

Legacy 44

$25,343.19

Cash
$4,500.00
Paid by others
$20,843.19
Total
$25,343.19
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00mailer $9,036.44digital $1,806.75

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 9, 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: 100981582, 101031228, 101039497, 101073019.

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.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:33 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Corrections--Jails & Prisons

Text

The text as introduced · 190 words

90R5182 GJD-D

By: Ward Johnson
H.B. No. 414

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring security cameras in common areas of

facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 501.028 to read as follows:

Sec. 501.028. SECURITY CAMERAS REQUIRED IN COMMON AREAS.

(a) The department shall install and maintain security cameras in

each common area of a facility operated by the department. This

subsection does not apply to any area of a facility where an inmate

has a reasonable expectation of privacy, including an inmate's cell

or a restroom or shower.

(b) Security cameras required by Subsection (a) must be:

(1) capable of capturing and transmitting high quality

video; and

(2) positioned in a manner to eliminate blind spots in

the common areas.

SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is not

required to comply with the requirements of Section 501.028,

Government Code, as added by this Act, until September 1, 2029.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.