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SB251

Regular Session

Relating to the creation of criminal law magistrates for Bell County.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

Bell County Commissioners Court • Bell County Courts (Referring Courts) • Bell County Criminal Magistrates

SB251
Low
Relating to the creation of criminal law magistrates for Bell County.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Bell County Commissioners CourtBell County CourtsBell County Criminal Magistrates
Primary Author: Sen. Peter Flores
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025.
  • Compliance Deadline: Immediate upon the appointment of the first magistrate. The positions are not automatically filled; the Bell County Commissioners Court must vote to appoint them.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Bell County Commissioners Court must establish minimum qualifications, salary, benefits, and specific powers prior to appointment. Monitor county agendas starting August 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Immediate: Audit standard legal retainer and bail bond indemnity templates for "judicial officer" definitions.
  • August 2025: Monitor Bell County Commissioners Court agendas for the appointment vote and definition of magistrate powers.
  • September 2025: Update corporate subpoena logs to flag orders from this new magistrate for immediate legal review.
  • Ongoing: Train loss prevention staff on the specific authority and perjury risks associated with magistrate hearings.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Legal Retainers: Defense firms must amend engagement letters to explicitly cover hearings before "appointed magistrates," ensuring scope of representation includes this new judicial layer.
  • Bail Bond Agreements: Indemnity agreements must be reviewed to ensure coverage for conditions of release set specifically by these new magistrates, who may have different standing orders than District Judges.

Hiring/Training

  • Witness Preparation: Corporate security and loss prevention officers must be trained that testimony before this magistrate carries statutory penalties for perjury.
  • HR Policy: General employers should anticipate accelerated release times for employees arrested for minor offenses. "No-call/no-show" policies related to incarceration may need adjustment as employees could be processed and released off-hours or same-day.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Subpoena Response: Update legal hold and subpoena response protocols to recognize "Bell County Criminal Magistrate" as a valid issuing authority. Failure to appear triggers direct contempt liability (fines/jail).
  • Docket Management: Legal firms must integrate this new venue into case tracking systems, as these magistrates hold concurrent jurisdiction with Justices of the Peace.

Fees & Costs

  • No Direct Fee Increases: The bill does not impose new statutory fees on businesses.
  • Operational Costs: Expect potential overtime costs for legal staff if the County utilizes these magistrates for night/weekend dockets.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The statute leaves the specific operational scope to the Bell County Commissioners Court. Businesses must watch for:

  • Scope of Powers: The Commissioners Court may limit the magistrate to bail settings only, or expand powers to include plea negotiations and pretrial matters. This definition determines the level of legal counsel required at hearings.
  • Scheduling: The County will determine if these are full-time or part-time/night positions. A night court significantly alters the workflow for bail bondsmen and defense counsel.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Nov 12, 2024
Passed Senate
Apr 1, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsBell CountyCourtsCourts--county & StatutoryCourts--personnelWitnessesMagistratesDenton CountyGrayson County
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Peter FloresRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Brad BuckleyRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Peter Flores

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Related by Topic

View more Bell County legislation
Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB251

Q

What does Texas SB251 do?

SB251 authorizes Bell County to appoint Criminal Law Magistrates to accelerate criminal case processing, specifically regarding jail intake and bail settings. This creates a new judicial venue with full contempt and warrant powers, requiring immediate operational adjustments for legal defense firms, bail bond sureties, and corporate security teams operating in Central Texas. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025.

Q

Who authored SB251?

SB251 was authored by Texas Senator Peter Flores during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB251 signed into law?

SB251 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB251?

SB251 is enforced by Bell County Commissioners Court, Bell County Courts (Referring Courts) and Bell County Criminal Magistrates.

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB251?

The compliance urgency for SB251 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB251?

The cost impact of SB251 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB251 address?

SB251 addresses topics including bell county, courts, courts--county & statutory, courts--personnel and witnesses.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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