SB 1870 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to municipal and county enforcement of drug and consumable hemp product laws; providing civil penalties.

SB 1870 prohibits cities, counties, and their officials (including sheriffs, police departments, and attorneys) from adopting or enforcing policies that would not fully comply with state drug laws (Chapters 481 and 483 of the Health and Safety Code) or federal drug laws. It bans local ordinances, charters, or ballot measures that would limit enforcement of these laws. Violations trigger civil penalties of at least $25,000 for the first offense and $50,000 for each subsequent violation, with penalties applied daily for ongoing violations. The bill also establishes a process for citizens to file complaints with the Attorney General to enforce this prohibition.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · Apr 23, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was substantially rewritten from an introduced draft to an engrossed version, shifting focus from charter amendment procedures to establishing new enforcement mechanisms for drug and hemp laws. The changes add a new chapter to the Local Government Code that allows citizens to file complaints against local entities that refuse to enforce drug and hemp laws, with civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily governing charter amendment procedures to creating a comprehensive enforcement framework for drug and consumable hemp product laws at the local government level.

SCOPE

Added a new Chapter 366 to the Local Government Code specifically for enforcement of drug and consumable hemp product laws.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new mechanism allowing citizens to file complaints with the attorney general against local entities that refuse to enforce drug and hemp laws.

Established civil penalties of $25,000 for first violations and $50,000 for subsequent violations against local entities found to knowingly violate enforcement requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the bill's focus from charter amendment procedures to prohibiting local entities from adopting policies that refuse to enforce state drug and hemp laws.

DEFINITION

Added a definition of 'local entity' to include municipal governing bodies, county commissioners courts, law enforcement officials, and district attorneys.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date as September 1, 2025, unless a two-thirds vote is obtained for immediate effect.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

22–8

Passed

Total votes 30

Apr 22, 2025

D Democratic10

2 Yea 8 Nay

80% Nay

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

lower

Apr 28, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (22-8)

senate

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Criminal Justice

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors