HB 686
bill to put failing jails in a public database
Filed
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
Caption
relating to the establishment of a public database of records related to jails found in noncompliance with state law or Commission on Jail Standards rules, standards, or procedures.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Jail violations go online by December 1, 2027. Kept 10 years.
The bill orders the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to build and run a public online database of every notice it issues finding a jail out of compliance, what the jail did to fix it, and the results of any follow-up inspection. It touches county jails and the commission, and gives the public, families and reporters a place to look up jail problems. The commission must have the database up by December 1, 2027, keep each record for at least 10 years, and load records from the 10 years before the law starts if it has them.
Receipt
The receipt
90R-HB686 · 2026-11-09
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the establishment of a public database of records related to jails found in noncompliance with state law or Commission on Jail Standards rules, standards, or procedures.
WHAT IT DOES
Jail violations go online by December 1, 2027. Kept 10 years.
The bill orders the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to build and run a public online database of every notice it issues finding a jail out of compliance, what the jail did to fix it, and the results of any follow-up inspection. It touches county jails and the commission, and gives the public, families and reporters a place to look up jail problems. The commission must have the database up by December 1, 2027, keep each record for at least 10 years, and load records from the 10 years before the law starts if it has them.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Unofficial winner. These election results have not been canvassed. Secretary of State results Retrieved Nov 6, 2026.
Derived from itemized gifts, Jul 1, 2025 to Oct 24, 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.
$352,600 raised since Jul 1, 2025. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Jul 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 7 of 7 filed reports carry a published figure.
$250,888 spent since Jul 1, 2025. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Jul 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 7 of 7 filed reports carry a published figure.
$69,555 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Oct 24, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Oct 24, 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, 2025 through Oct 24, 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 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 2:35 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Text
The text as introduced · 281 words
By: Ochoa H.B. No. 686 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment of a public database of records related to jails found in noncompliance with state law or Commission on Jail Standards rules, standards, or procedures. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 511.0116 to read as follows: Sec. 511.0116. PUBLIC DATABASE OF RECORDS RELATED TO NONCOMPLIANT JAILS. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the commission shall establish and maintain a publicly accessible database of: (1) each notice of noncompliance issued by the commission under Section 511.011; (2) each action taken at a jail to correct a deficiency identified in a notice of noncompliance issued by the commission under Section 511.011; and (3) the results of each reinspection of a jail conducted with respect to a notice of noncompliance issued by the commission under Section 511.011 for the jail. (b) The commission shall maintain in the database established under Subsection (a) each record required by that subsection for a period of not less than 10 years. SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2027, the Commission on Jail Standards shall establish the database required by Section 511.0116, Government Code, as added by this Act. (b) Section 511.0116, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to a record described by Subsection (a) of that section that is created: (1) on or after the effective date of this Act; or (2) during the 10-year period preceding the effective date of this Act, provided that the Commission on Jail Standards has access to the record. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.