AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott held a roundtable at the Texas Public Policy Foundation to demand legislators fix what he describes as a broken bail system.

What You Need To Know

  • Two bills would deny bail for felony sexual offense, violent offenses or continuous trafficking, unless the person is deemed not a danger to the community

  • Supporters also want to give prosecutors the power to appeal a judge’s bond decision

  • But civil rights groups hope Democrats stick together and oppose these bills, if critical changes aren’t made

“Judges simply have far too easy discretion to set easy bail for violent criminals,” said Abbott.

State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, have worked to get bipartisan support for their bills that cleared the Texas Senate. The challenge is in the House. If all 88 Republicans vote to approve the bills, 12 Democrats would be needed to support the constitutional amendments to send the measures to the voters.

“We are done negotiating. The governor has laid out perfectly what the bill is going to do,” said Huffman.

The proposals include automatically denying bail for felony sexual offense, violent offenses or continuous trafficking, unless the person is deemed not a danger to the community. If judges allow bail, they must explain their decision in writing. Supporters also want to give prosecutors the power to appeal a judge’s bond decision.

Williamson County resident Sophia Strother Lewis says any of these opinions would help close her case. Her sexual abuser was released on bond after being convicted in November 2023 but has yet to show up for his sentencing hearing.

“Whether it’s sexual assault survivors like myself, human trafficking survivors, even domestic violence survivors have been waiting for our opportunity to say we are worth more than bail,” she said.

Supporters are hoping to get House Democratic support by sharing stories like Lewis’. Abbott believes the question is simple.

“Every member of the Texas House has one question to answer. Are they going to vote to protect the citizens they represent or the criminals who kill them?” he asked.

But civil rights groups hope Democrats stick together and oppose these bills, if critical changes aren’t made.

“The bills would make it to where you’re basically guilty until proven innocent is how people will be treated under these constitutional amendments. So we hope to see these restricted a lot more than what they already are and are hoping that the House members are making those requests,” said Kirsten Budwine with the Texas Civil Rights Project.

Abbott says he hasn’t made a call on whether he will convene a special session if the measures fail. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened to keep the budget from passing without bail reform.