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Texas Legislature· HB 2697Effective on 9/1/25

Relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond forfeiture, the official text

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H.B. No. 2697

AN ACT

relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond

forfeiture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 17.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to

read as follows:

(a) Subject to Subsection (a-1), a [Any] surety that wants[,

desiring] to surrender the surety's [his] principal and has

notified [after notifying] the principal's attorney, if the

principal is represented by an attorney, in a manner provided by

Rule 21a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, of the surety's intention

to surrender the principal, may file an affidavit of that [such]

intention before the court or magistrate before which the

prosecution is pending. The affidavit must state:

(1) the court and cause number of the case;

(2) the name of the defendant;

(3) the offense with which the defendant is charged;

(4) the date of the bond;

(5) the cause for the surrender; and

(6) that notice of the surety's intention to surrender

the principal has been given as required by this subsection and

Subsection (a-1), if applicable.

(a-1) If the offense with which the defendant is charged is

classified as a felony under the Penal Code, in addition to

satisfying the requirements provided by Subsection (a), a surety

must, before filing the affidavit described by that subsection,

notify the attorney representing the state with jurisdiction in the

case of the surety's intention to surrender the principal.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________
______________________________

President of the Senate
Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2697 was passed by the House on May 8,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, 2 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2697 was passed by the Senate on May

23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor
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