Overview

• Governor Abbott signed three key bail reform bills in Houston on June 3 to tighten pretrial release rules for violent offenders.
• Senate Bill 9 prevents personal bonds for serious offenses and empowers prosecutors to appeal magistrates’ bond decisions.
• Senate Bill 40 prohibits government use of taxpayer dollars for bail bonds and House Bill 75 requires written explanations for magistrates’ bond dismissals.
• Senate Joint Resolution 5 will appear on the November ballot and, if approved, authorize judges to deny bail for specified violent crimes.
• Critics from the ACLU and jail officials warn the reforms may extend pretrial detention, strain county jails and disproportionately impact low-income defendants.