Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
3 bills that modify several different Codes
A Blog about 88th Legislature Laws
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of 88th Legislature Laws
The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I have worked my way through to the Transportation Code. The Utilities and Water Code will follow.
Blog Summary
HB 4559
HB 4595
HB 4635 - Racketeering and unlawful debt collection
3 bills that modify several different Codes
Published: 2026-07-20
HB 4559 - 159 pages
The Agriculture Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, Code of Criminal Procedures, Education Code, Election Code, Family Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Local Government Code, Occupations Code, Property Code, Tax Code, Transportation Code, Utilities Code, Water Code is modified for population to maintain similar rules moving forward for counties that have increased in population. At least this is what seems to be happening as there are consistent shifts in population numbers throughout the many codes.
HB 4595 - 86 pages
This bill covers numerous nonsubstantive codifications that renumber or correct codes. There does not appear to be anything that creates any substantive changes. Seems more like a housekeeping exercise.
HB 4635 - 50 pages
Modifications to the Civil Practices and Remedies Code. Definitions are set out for terms used in racketeering and unlawful debt collection. These cases may be treated as cases of special public importance. This should speed up the process for them. Claims here cannot attempt to seize previously seized assets. Prosecutors may request documents believed to be in possession of a person regarding racketeering. There are timelines for various forms of discovery that are permitted, as wells as, for responding. There are rules for how disregarding and non-compliance are to be managed.
It then goes on to delineate the civil remedies that are available, including divestment of any interest in the property, imposing restrictions for future activities, suspension of licenses/permits, forfeiture of charters. Basically all the rules necessary in a civil action are set out for racketeering matters to be partially handled in the civil realm.
There are also changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure for racketeering and unlawful debt collection. Unlawful debt collection covers things like collection of gambling debts, interest that is usury. And it also sets up Rico Liens.
A great deal of this has been handled mostly by the federal government - at least the civil side. And generally I believe Rico liens were a federal government thing. Interesting to see the State of Texas step up and start taking control of these matters. If it happens within Texas, then the state should have always been handling this. It is long past time to remove items from the Federal realm which never belonged there.
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