Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and to the functions of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee, the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments, and the Windham School District.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Keith Bell and 12 co-sponsors

Texas extends criminal justice agencies' authority through 2025 sunset review, continuing operations of prisons, parole boards, and inmate healthcare systems serving 140,000+ incarcerated individuals.

Effective on 9/1/25

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Legislative bill overview

SB 2405 is a sunset review bill that continues the existence and operations of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Board of Pardons and Paroles, and related criminal justice agencies. The bill renews their statutory authority and modifies their functions, governance structure, and oversight mechanisms to take effect September 1, 2025.

Why is this important

Sunset review bills are routine but critical legislative mechanisms that require agencies to justify their continued existence or face elimination. This bill affects the administration of Texas prisons, parole decisions, inmate healthcare, and prison education—systems impacting approximately 140,000+ incarcerated individuals and thousands of employees, plus broader criminal justice policy.

Potential points of contention

Agency accountability measures: Sunset bills often include new reporting requirements, performance metrics, or structural changes that agencies may view as burdensome or that advocates may see as insufficient oversight

Parole and release policies: Any modifications to the Board of Pardons and Paroles' functions could affect release rates and sentence lengths, affecting both criminal justice reform advocates and public safety concerns

Healthcare and mental health services: Changes to how the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee operates may impact inmate care quality—a persistent point of litigation and concern for both reform groups and corrections administrators