HB 253 — Investigating a Death in a County Jail

Texas would set rules for investigating a death in a county jail.

By LeRoy Nellis — Independent reporting

HB 253, by Collier: Texas would set rules for investigating a death in a county jail.

A House bill does not decide a case by itself. It sets the rules under which sheriffs, jails, and detention centers operate, and those rules are part of the public record anyone can read.

The caption is the whole description

The Legislature caption for HB 253 says: “Relating to the investigation of the death of a county jail prisoner.” The report names Collier as author and shows the last action as H Filed on 11/09/2026. This page adds no other claims on purpose.

What it would mean

The caption describes a single change. It does not describe a committee result, a fiscal note, or an outcome, and neither does this page. Those would have to come from the history page, not from a guess. The caption itself: “Relating to the investigation of the death of a county jail prisoner.”

Author: Collier. Filed: 11/09/2026.

What to watch next

If the bill moves, the history page will show it. This summary does not predict a vote or an outcome, because the report does not contain one.

Sources: Texas Legislature, Today's Filed Bills in the House (11/09/2026), HB 253 caption and author; Bill history for HB 253.

All Texas House Bills in this section

Full bill text (Introduced)

90R3285 JDK-D By: Collier H.B. No. 253 relating to the investigation of the death of a county jail prisoner.

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 511.021, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 511.021. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF PRISONER DEATH [ OCCURRING IN COUNTY JAIL ].

SECTION 2. Section 511.021(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) On the death of a prisoner in the custody of a county jail, including a prisoner who is temporarily outside the county jail for medical treatment, transport, a court appearance, or another purpose, the commission shall , regardless of where the death occurred, appoint a law enforcement agency, other than the local law enforcement agency that operates the county jail, to investigate the death as soon as possible. Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b), the appointed law enforcement agency shall conduct the investigation.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.

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