{"id":2440341,"date":"2025-05-29T10:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T14:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-house-democrats-block-bail-reform-measures-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T10:41:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T14:41:21","slug":"texas-house-democrats-block-bail-reform-measures-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-house-democrats-block-bail-reform-measures-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas House Democrats block bail reform measures &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftexas-house-democrats-block-bail-reform-measures-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2440341&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>in Texas, efforts to pass bail reform measures were halted in the House after previously gaining bipartisan support in the Senate. This legislative initiative was a key priority for Governor Greg Abbott but ultimately failed to be approved by House Democrats, who blocked two joint resolutions aimed at creating constitutional amendments for the November ballot. the measures included provisions to deny bail for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-sheriffs-sue-biden-over-ice-restrictions-plummeting-deportations\/\" title=\"... Sheriffs Sue Biden Over ICE Restrictions, Plummeting Deportations\">illegal immigrants accused<\/a> of serious offenses, including murder and human trafficking, and also a resolution requiring bail denial for individuals charged with felonies who were previously convicted of similar offenses. Despite some momentum, including support from a few Democrats for one of the resolutions, both proposals fell short of the necessary votes for passage. The failure of these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/aoc-promotes-bail-reform-one-day-after-waukesha-christmas-parade-massacre\/\" title=\"AOC Promotes ... Reform One Day After Waukesha Christmas Parade Massacre\">bail reform efforts<\/a> followed ongoing concerns about public safety and violent crime, especially in urban areas like Harris County, where some judges had faced backlash for releasing violent offenders. A related measure, SJR 5, which focuses on ensuring that bail is denied based on evidence indicating a risk of nonappearance or community safety concerns, will be presented to voters in November as a proposed constitutional amendment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Texas House Democrats block bail reform measures<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2134569\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>(The Center Square) &mdash;<\/strong> A key legislative priority of Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Greg-Abbott\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Greg Abbott<\/a>&rsquo;s &ndash; bail reform &ndash; failed in the Texas House after passing in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Texas<\/a> Senate with bipartisan support. In previous legislative sessions, similar measures passed the Senate but failed in the House.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">governor<\/a> has yet to announce if he&rsquo;ll call a special session to address the issue.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3424104\/andrew-tristan-tate-brothers-charges-uk-rape\/\">Andrew Tate and brother Tristan face slew of charges in UK including rape<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3424265\/ice-arrests-illegal-immigrant-ramon-morales-reyes-threatened-assassinate-trump-rally\/\">ICE arrests illegal immigrant who threatened to assassinate Trump at rally<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3423595\/five-injured-connecticut-mall-shooting\/\">Five injured in mass shooting at Connecticut mall<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>On the last day of the legislative session for the House to pass Senate bills, roughly 40 Democrats blocked two joint resolutions that would have created constitutional amendments to be added to the November ballot for voters to decide on the issue.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3292730\/all-executive-orders-actions-trump-first-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One hundred votes are needed to pass a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/infographic-the-states-that-changed-mail-in-voting-rules-for-2022\/\" title=\"INFOGRAPHIC: The States That Changed Mail-In Voting Rules for 2022\">constitutional amendment resolution<\/a> in the House.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Joint Resolution 1, filed by state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, would require bail to be denied pending trial to &ldquo;an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">illegal alien<\/a> if a judge or magistrate determines after a hearing that probable cause exists to believe that the person engaged in the conduct constituting the applicable offense.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Applicable offenses include murder; capital murder; aggravated kidnapping; human trafficking; sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, continuous sexual abuse of a child or disabled individual; indecency with a child; possession or promotion of child pornography; aggravated robbery; burglary (if a first degree felony), weapons related charges; third degree felony election fraud; felony drug charges; among others, according to the resolution analysis.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Illegal alien&rdquo; is defined &ldquo;as an alien who entered the United States without inspection or at any time or any place other than as designated by the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Attorney-Generals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">attorney general<\/a>; who was admitted as a nonimmigrant and failed to maintain the nonimmigrant status under which the alien was admitted or to which it was changed under <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >applicable federal immigration law<\/a> or to comply with the conditions of the alien&rsquo;s status; and did not attain and maintain lawful presence in the United States before the date of the commission of the offense.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>After two recorded votes on Wednesday, only 87 Republicans supported the measure.<\/p>\n<p>Thirty-nine Democrats voted against it: Bhojani; Bowers; Bryant; Bucy; Campos; Canales; Collier; Cortez; Davis, Y.; Flores; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonz&aacute;lez, J.; Gonz&aacute;lez, M.; Goodwin; Howard; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Lalani; Lopez, R.; Martinez Fischer; Meza; Morales Shaw; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Ordaz; Perez, V.; Reynolds; Rodr&iacute;guez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Thompson; Turner; Vo; Walle; Wu; Zwiener.<\/p>\n<p>Four voted, &ldquo;present, not voting;&rdquo; 19 were absent and didn&rsquo;t vote.<\/p>\n<p>Huffman&rsquo;s Senate Joint Resolution 87 also failed in the House. After two failed votes, a third vote was scheduled for reconsideration but never happened, according to the House record.<\/p>\n<p>This resolution received more votes, with 10 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Democrats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Democrats<\/a> joining all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Republicans<\/a>, to bring the total vote to 97 in favor, three votes shy of the 100 needed.<\/p>\n<p>SJR 87 would require bail be denied to those charged with felonies who were previously convicted of and were released on bail for certain felony offenses at the time of the new offense. Applicable offenses include murder; capital murder; aggravated assault (if serious bodily injury) using a firearm, club, knife, or explosive weapon; aggravated kidnapping; aggravated robbery; aggravated sexual assault; indecency with a child; trafficking of persons and continuous trafficking of persons, according to the bill analysis.<\/p>\n<p>For years, Huffman, a former prosecutor, has championed bail reform, seeking justice for residents in a city plagued by violent crime.<\/p>\n<p>Last November, Harris County voters ousted some Democratic judges who released violent offenders onto the streets to allegedly commit more violent crimes, The Center Square reported. The practice is ongoing, with 248th District Court Judge Hilary Unger earlier this year releasing a capital <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/murder\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">murder<\/a> suspect who allegedly ambushed and killed a sheriff&rsquo;s deputy, The Center Square reported.<\/p>\n<p>Statewide, the problem is persistent. In 2024, of the more than 30,000 people charged with violent offenses, two-thirds received bail of under $50,000, paying roughly $5,000 if they used a surety, according to state data.<\/p>\n<p>Forty Democrats voted against SJR 87: Allen; Bernal; Bryant; Bucy; Campos; Cole; Collier; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Flores; G&aacute;mez; Garcia, J.; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonz&aacute;lez, J.; Gonz&aacute;lez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Hernandez; Howard; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Martinez Fischer; Meza; Moody; Morales, C.; Ordaz; Perez, V.; Reynolds; Rodr&iacute;guez.<\/p>\n<p>Eleven members were absent and didn&rsquo;t vote.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3422890\/san-jose-crime-technology-investigations-100-percent-solved-matt-mahan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">THE SAN JOSE WAY: CITY SOLVES 100% OF HOMICIDES FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY TO FIGHT CRIME<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The legislature did pass a committee substitute to Huffman&rsquo;s Senate Joint Resolution 5, which requires bail to be denied if clear and convincing evidence is presented to show that bail &ldquo;is insufficient to reasonably prevent the person&rsquo;s willful nonappearance in court or ensure the safety of the community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense.&rdquo; Applicable offenses include murder; capital murder; aggravated assault (causing serious bodily injury), using a firearm, club, knife, or explosive weapon; aggravated kidnapping; aggravated robbery; aggravated sexual assault; indecency with a child; trafficking of persons; or continuous trafficking of persons.<\/p>\n<p>SJR 5 will be on the ballot in November as a proposed constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2134569\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2134569\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Texas House Democrats thwart bail reform efforts backed by Gov. Abbott<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2440342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/texas-governor-greg-abbott.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[51172,33723,3694],"class_list":["post-2440341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-bail-reform","tag-house-democrats","tag-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/texas-governor-greg-abbott.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2440341"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2440345,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2440341\/revisions\/2440345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2440342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2440341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2440341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2440341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}