HB 499

bill to open first post-arrest hearings to the public

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

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

Caption

relating to public access to criminal proceedings.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Magistrate hearings after arrest go public. Starting September 1, 2027.

The bill adds the first hearing after an arrest, the appearance before a magistrate under Article 15.17, to the list of criminal proceedings that must be open to the public. It touches people who have been arrested, magistrates, courts, and members of the public and press who want to watch. Starting with proceedings that begin on or after September 1, 2027, those post-arrest magistrate hearings must be public.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 5277 (Died in committee) and 89R HB 1604 (Did not pass). Checked against 88R and 89R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 5277 (Died in committee) and 89R HB 1604 (Did not pass). 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.QUICK READ: 139 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 139 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 90R bill as filed runs 407 words (derived, 1,039 graded bills, snapshot Nov 10, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB499 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

ITEM

relating to public access to criminal proceedings.

WHAT IT DOES

Magistrate hearings after arrest go public. Starting September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 9, 2026Filed

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

John H. Bucy III

Donors

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56KAdam Loewy$20,000Texas Sands PAC$17K

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 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.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $31,000.00
Total: $56,000.00

consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 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.

Report IDs: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Adam Loewy$20,000.00

Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash: $17,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $17,000.00

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 · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Money

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

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $31,000.00
Total: $56,000.00

consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 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.

Report IDs: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash: $17,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $17,000.00

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 · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

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.

88R HB 5277

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 10, 2023: Referred to Criminal Justice

Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.

Caption, 88R bill history

89R HB 1604

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Did not pass · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 12, 2025: Committee report sent to Calendars

Relating to public access to criminal proceedings.

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 2:34 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Criminal Procedure--Bail & Pretrial Release

Text

The text as introduced · 139 words

90R1296 CJD-D

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 499

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to public access to criminal proceedings.

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

SECTION 1. Article 1.24, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended to read as follows:

Art. 1.24. PUBLIC TRIAL. The proceedings , including a

proceeding under Article 15.17, and trials in all courts shall be

public.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective

date of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commenced before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in

effect for that purpose.

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