Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for February 18th, 2025
Texas House of Representatives
None
Texas Senate
Subject: Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR 1) – No bail for illegal aliens charged with felonies.
- Author: State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston)
- Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail for an illegal alien charged with an offense punishable as a felony.
- TFR Position: SUPPORT
- Background:
- SJR 1 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution, requiring that an illegal alien charged with a felony is denied bail, if the judge or magistrate finds probable cause that the person engaged in the conduct constituting the felony. The SJR aims to enhance public safety for citizens at a time when millions of illegal aliens have entered Texas without proper vetting or authorization, further escalating the rates of violent criminal and cartel-related activity. For this reason, TFR supports SJR 1.
Subject: Senate Bill 40 (SB 40) – No taxpayer money for bail.
- Author: State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston)
- Caption: Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds to pay bail bonds.
- TFR Position: SUPPORT
- Background:
- As proposed, SB 40 prohibits giving taxpayer funds to non-profits who, in turn, use funds to pay for a criminal defendant’s bail bond. Taxpayers should not be subsidizing these non-profit private entities, which should succeed or fail on their own merits. For this reason, TFR supports SB 40.
Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public, sharing Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Notices are provided prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.
Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.
