CLEAT’s lobby team works hard to maintain officers’ rights and advocate for better working conditions and benefits for our members.
89th Texas Legislative Session (2025)
The CLEAT legislative team worked diligently to find sponsors/authors for over thirty bills this session. Our team and the legislators who carried our bills were able to pass nearly half of the legislative package! We actively opposed over 120 bills, and none of them passed. That statistic alone shows the strength of our organization and our affiliated locals who participate in PAC and the legislative session! The summary of bills highlighted below does not cover all the important law enforcement bills, but these items did take a tremendous number of resources from your legislative team, and we are proud of their passage.
HB 2713—Civil Service Repeal Pop Bracket (Senator Hancock, Representative Darby)
Last session, CLEAT passed legislation protecting Chapter 143 civil service from being repealed in cities with a population of 950K or more, by prohibiting the ability to petition for its removal. This session we passed new legislation dropping the pop bracket to 50K to protect cities from anti-police activist groups, as well as over thirty-five other cities currently covered in the bracket.
SB 1637—Deadly Conduct (Senator King, Representative Hefner)
CLEAT collaborated with Senator King and Representative Hefner on legislation to carve peace officers out of the deadly conduct statute by removing the presumption clause in the statute for those acting in the course and scope of their duties. CLEAT has represented members in multiple counties under attack by the District Attorney for acts that fall within policy and the law outside of this overly broad statute. Several of our members have been indicted on deadly conduct charges for engaging in authorized use of force. This is concerning as routine actions taken by peace officers met the elements of the deadly conduct statute prior to passage of this bill.
SB 2570—Less Lethal (Senator Flores, Representative Guillen)
CLEAT worked extensively on the drafting of language to provide a defense to prosecution for the deployment of less-than-lethal weapons by law enforcement in the course and scope of their duties. After the indictment of over 20 CLEAT members for the justified use of bean bag munitions, as well as the threat of Taser 10 and bean bag shotguns qualifying as firearms, we are thrilled to see this legislation has been signed by the Governor and is effective immediately.
HB 1902—Jugging (Senator Huffman, Representative Cook)
Following requests from members, our team worked with various associations as well as Representative Cook’s office to add a jugging statute to the penal code. The offense level is enhanced from the robbery charges often filed against the perpetrators.
SB 9—Bail Reform (Senator Huffman, Representative Smithee)
The bill will establish regulations for charitable bail organizations. It seeks to enhance the fairness and efficiency of the bail system in Texas, potentially impacting defendants’ access to bail and the overall management of bail practices in the state.
SB 40—Political Subdivisions Paying Bail Bonds (Senator Huffman)
Prohibition on political subdivisions paying bail bonds. After it was discovered that Harris County and others had taken part in funding the release of violent felons by contributing to bail funds, Senator Huffman passed legislation banning the act and CLEAT was in full support.
HB 3161—8% TMRS (Senator Hinojosa, Representative Villalobos)
CLEAT worked with Representative Villalobos and Senator Adam Hinojosa on a bill establishing regulations regarding member contributions to the Texas Municipal Retirement System, to include 8 percent of the employees’ compensation among the rates that a municipality may elect to designate as the rate of TMRS member contributions for employees. Prior to passage of this bill, 7% was the cap.
HB 331—Workers’ Comp Presumption (Representatives Canales and Patterson, Senator Hinijosa)
For several sessions now, CLEAT has worked with Representative Canales and Patterson on workers compensation bills to address the heart attack presumptive language enhancing it from on duty coverage and extending it to include medical events up to 8 hours following the officer’s shift. Senator Chuy Hinojosa carried the bill in the Senate.
HB 2488—CCH Videoconference (Senator Alvardo, Representative Keith Bell)
After feedback from members and the ever-changing environment post covid, we advocated for the change to modernize Texas workers’ compensation system by allowing certain contested cases hearing to be conducted through remote communication. This will allow our members additional accessibility to the hearing process.
HB 2467—State Fire Marshal Schedule C (Senator Hall, Representative VanDeaver)
CLEAT worked with Representative Van Deaver and Senator Hall on a bill that modifies the compensation and benefits structure for specific peace officers working under the authority of the state fire marshal in Texas. The bill moves the Marshal’s under Schedule C and enhances the support and recognition of these officers.
SB 1737—Attorney General Peace Officers and Others LECOS (Senator Huffman, Representative Geren)
CLEAT worked to pass a bill modifying the service retirement benefits for law enforcement & custodial officers within the Employees Retirement System of Texas. Groups covered by this legislation include The Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the Comptroller, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. This will enhance peace officer’s financial security and incentivize long-term service in their respective roles.
SB 1646—Telecommunications; Copper Theft (Senator King, Representative Hefner)
CLEAT advocated alongside the Fort Worth Police Officer’s Association and other stakeholders to ensure we passed legislation enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure from theft and damage associated with copper and brass materials. The bill creates stricter penalties and regulations for both individuals engaging in theft & recycling entities handling these materials. We believe this will deter criminal conduct, safeguard essential services and ensure compliance among metal recycling businesses.
HB 4350—Confidentiality Property Records (Senator Zaffirini, Representative Capriglione)
CLEAT advocated for this legislation to enhance privacy protections for peace officers by ensuring that sensitive personal information is not publicly accessible in real property records.
HB 108—Body Armor Enhancement (Senator Hinojosa, Representative Please)
CLEAT worked with Representative Plesa to pass legislation to impose stricter consequences for offenders who utilize body armor during the execution of crimes. This bill reinforces the seriousness of such offenses.
BAD BILLS DEFEATED:
HB 17—Drone legislation that would have banned the use of foreign-made products. The passage of this bill would have severely handicapped law enforcement agencies and their drone programs.
HB 4609—TMRS bill that would undermine legislation we passed last session that benefited law enforcement retirees and their annual COLA.
SB 2330—Prohibition on Dues Check-off
And many others!
To view CLEAT’s Legislative Achievements from sessions past, click the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
To read more about CLEAT’s efforts in past legislative sessions, click on the link in the image above, or navigate to cleat.org/legislative-archive
You can contribute to CLEAT PAC by texting CLEATPAC to 243725 or by clicking Contribute at the top of our webpage.
You can contribute to CLEAT PAC by texting CLEATPAC to 243725 or you can click the link below.
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