SB 2201 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to intelligence databases for combinations, criminal street gangs, and foreign terrorist organizations.

SB 2201 requires Texas law enforcement officers to complete a mandatory training course before accessing the state's intelligence database on criminal street gangs and foreign terrorist organizations. The bill specifies that only certain types of evidence - such as court judgments, verified self-admissions during legal proceedings, or two forms of corroborated information - may be entered into the database. It directs the Texas Department of Public Safety to develop rules for the training program and database management procedures. This legislation aims to standardize how law enforcement collects and accesses sensitive intelligence data.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 11, 2025 Last action May 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · May 5, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Texas intelligence database laws to add mandatory training requirements for database access, update reasonable suspicion criteria for gang and terrorist organization membership, and establish a new audit requirement. The changes aim to improve data accuracy and accountability while maintaining the ability to track criminal street gang and foreign terrorist organization activities.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope by adding new training requirements for all personnel accessing the intelligence database and clarifies reasonable suspicion standards for including individuals in the database.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory minimum training course requirement for all personnel accessing the intelligence database before use is permitted.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified reasonable suspicion criteria to clarify when an individual's association with criminal street gangs or foreign terrorist organizations qualifies for database inclusion.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new audit requirement for the state auditor to annually review intelligence database information.

TIMELINE

Established implementation timeline with training course required by January 1, 2026, and effective date of September 1, 2025.

DEFINITION

Updated definitions of reasonable suspicion and evidence criteria for determining gang or terrorist organization membership.

Floor votes · Senate May 5, 2025

How they voted

28–2

Passed

Total votes 30

May 5, 2025

D Democratic10

8 Yea 2 Nay

80% Yea

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

Amendments

May 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

May 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

lower

May 7, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed as amended

upper

May 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

upper

May 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

May 5, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

May 5, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (28-2)

senate

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Referred to Border Security

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors