SB2196

Orders under Code of Criminal Procedure 17.292(a) or (b)(1) previously lasted 31–61 days after issuance; they now last 61–91 days. Subsection (a) allows emergency orders at the magistrate appearance after arrest for family violence or the other listed offenses, and (b)(1) requires an order for a family-violence arrest involving serious bodily injury. The bill changes these orders’ duration, not the underlying grounds for issuing them. Final law, section 1; Existing categories and prior duration.

For orders required by subsection (b)(2)—a family-violence arrest involving the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon during an assault—the former 61–91-day range becomes 91–121 days after issuance. This is not a rule making every protective order last 121 days. Orders issued before September 1, 2025 remain under the law in force when issued; the bill does not automatically add time to those earlier orders. Final law, sections 1–3; Deadly-weapon category.

The order still takes effect on issuance, with a copy served on the defendant in person or electronically and a separate service record. The retained modification rule requires notice to every affected party, a hearing, and findings that the original order is unworkable, the change will not increase the victim’s risk, and it will not endanger a protected person. SB2196 does not create unrestricted power to alter an order. Final law, retained language in 17.292(j).

Changes during passage: The introduced, Senate committee, Senate-passed, House committee and final versions contain the same operative provisions. Both committees reported without amendments, and the official amendment index lists none. Introduced; Senate committee; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Amendment index; Version index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

People protected by newly issued orders can have restrictions remain in place longer, and defendants must comply for the longer applicable period. Courts and law enforcement must use the new ranges. The act does not measure violence prevented or guarantee a person’s safety, and it does not change the duration of every other kind of protective order. Final law.

The April 14 fiscal note anticipates no significant state or local fiscal implication and assumes costs can be absorbed within existing resources. That budget estimate does not erase the practical consequences of longer restrictions for the people involved. The act makes no appropriation. Fiscal note.