S.B. No. 8         AN ACT   relating to agreements between certain sheriffs and the United   States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal   immigration law and a grant program to cover the costs of   implementing those agreements.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding   Chapter 753 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 753.  IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN   CERTAIN SHERIFFS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT   SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS          Sec. 753.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                (1)  "Immigration enforcement agency" means the United   States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.                (2)  "Immigration law enforcement agreement" means a   written agreement between a state or local law enforcement official   and the immigration enforcement agency under Section 287(g),   Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1357(g)), or a   similar federal program, that authorizes the official and the   official's officers, employees, and contractors to enforce federal   immigration law.                (3)  "Grant" means a grant under the grant program   established under Subchapter C.          Sec. 753.002.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. (a) The   comptroller may accept gifts, grants, and donations to establish   and administer the grant program established under Subchapter C.          (b)  The comptroller shall make publicly available on the   comptroller's Internet website the source of any gifts, grants, and   donations that were given to the comptroller specifically for the   implementation of the grant program established under Subchapter C.   SUBCHAPTER B.  IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS REQUIRED          Sec. 753.051.  IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS. (a)     The sheriff of each county that operates a jail or contracts with a   private vendor to operate a jail shall request and enter into an   immigration law enforcement agreement to authorize the sheriff and   officers, employees, and, as applicable, contractors of the   sheriff's department to enforce federal immigration law.          (b)  A sheriff who requested but did not enter into an   immigration law enforcement agreement under this section shall make   additional requests to enter into an agreement under this section   at least once annually after each request is made.          Sec. 753.052.  IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENT   REQUIREMENTS.  An agreement entered into under Section 753.051 must   include the scope, duration, and limitations of the authority to   enforce federal immigration law.          Sec. 753.053.  ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. A sheriff who   enters into an agreement under Section 753.051 shall allocate the   necessary resources, including personnel and funding, to ensure the   proper implementation of the agreement, including the resources   necessary to meet any reasonable objectives for enforcement set   forth in the agreement.   SUBCHAPTER C.  GRANT PROGRAM          Sec. 753.101.  ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.  From any   money appropriated or otherwise available for this purpose, the   comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program to   support the state purpose of assisting sheriffs participating in   immigration law enforcement agreements under Section 753.051.          Sec. 753.102.  ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION.  (a)  A sheriff   is eligible to apply for a grant under this subchapter if the   sheriff has entered into an immigration law enforcement agreement   under Section 753.051.          (b)  The comptroller by rule may require an applicant to   submit information or documentation with respect to a grant   application submitted under this section.          Sec. 753.103.  AWARD; LIMITATIONS ON USE.  (a)  On approval   of an application submitted under Section 753.102 and using money   appropriated to the comptroller or otherwise available for this   purpose, the comptroller shall award a grant to an eligible sheriff   who applies for the grant as provided by Subsection (b).          (b)  The amount of grant money awarded to a sheriff must be   determined based on the population of the county the sheriff serves   according to the following tiers:                (1)  $80,000 for a county with a population of 99,999 or   less;                (2)  $100,000 for a county with a population of at least   100,000 but not more than 499,999;                (3)  $120,000 for a county with a population of at least   500,000 but not more than 999,999; and                (4)  $140,000 for a county with a population of at least   one million.          (c)  A sheriff who is awarded a grant under this section must   use the grant money to pay the costs associated with participating   in the agreement that is the subject of the grant that are not   reimbursed by the federal government. Grant money may be spent over   a two-year period only on the following:                (1)  compensation for persons performing duties under   the agreement;                (2)  generating and delivering reports required by the   agreement, including administrative duties required by this   subchapter;                (3)  equipment and related services for peace officers   and other persons related to the agreement, including the cost of   repairing or replacing equipment required, but not provided, under   the agreement;                (4)  attendance by a person at any training or other   event required under the agreement;                (5)  costs to the county for confining inmates under   the authority granted under the agreement; and                (6)  other expenses associated with participating in   the agreement as determined by the comptroller.          Sec. 753.104.  COMPTROLLER POWERS AND DUTIES. The   comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to implement the grant   program established under this subchapter, including rules that   establish:                (1)  a standardized application process, including the   form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the   form;                (2)  deadlines for:                      (A)  applying for the grant;                      (B)  submitting detailed documentation necessary   to demonstrate the sheriff's costs in participating in the   agreement that is the subject of the grant at least annually;                      (C)  distributing grant money; and                      (D)  spending grant money; and                (3)  procedures for:                      (A)  monitoring the distribution of grant money to   ensure compliance with this subchapter; and                      (B)  returning grant money that was not used by a   sheriff for a purpose authorized by this subchapter.          Sec. 753.105.  EFFECT ON COUNTY APPROPRIATIONS.  In relation   to money received from a grant awarded to a sheriff under this   subchapter, the commissioners court of the county the sheriff   serves may not reduce the appropriation to the sheriff's department   in response to the sheriff receiving the grant.   SUBCHAPTER D.  REPORTING AND ENFORCEMENT          Sec. 753.151.  REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. Not later than   April 1 of each even-numbered year, the comptroller shall prepare a   written report on sheriffs participating in immigration law   enforcement agreements under Section 753.051 using information   provided to the comptroller under Subchapter C and Section 753.152   and submit the report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and   speaker of the house of representatives. The report must include:                (1)  details on the grant program established under   Subchapter C, including the number of sheriffs participating and   total amount of money distributed; and                (2)  a summary of any enforcement actions taken by the   attorney general under Section 753.154.          Sec. 753.152.  COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS REPORT.  The   Commission on Jail Standards shall annually submit to the   comptroller a copy of the reports received under Section 511.0101.          Sec. 753.153.  SHERIFF REPORT ON ATTEMPT TO ENTER INTO   AGREEMENT.  The sheriff of a county that operates a jail or   contracts with a private vendor to operate a jail who has not   entered into an agreement under Section 753.051 shall annually   provide proof to the attorney general of the sheriff's attempt to   enter into the agreement.          Sec. 753.154.  ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL. (a) The   attorney general may bring an action against a sheriff who fails to   comply with this chapter in a district court for appropriate   equitable relief.          (b)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses   incurred in obtaining relief under Subsection (a), including court   costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness   fees, and deposition costs.          (c)  An action brought against a sheriff under this section   must be brought in a district court for the county served by the   sheriff.          SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2026, the sheriff of   each county shall comply with Section 753.051(a), Government Code,   as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  A grant awarded to a sheriff under Subchapter C,   Chapter 753, Government Code, as added by this Act, may cover any   costs associated with participating in an agreement described by   Section 753.051, Government Code, as added by this Act, that were   incurred by the sheriff between September 30, 2025, and January 1,   2026.          SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this   Act takes effect January 1, 2026.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 8 passed the Senate on   April 1, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 11;   May 28, 2025, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and   requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 2025, House   granted request of the Senate; May 31, 2025, Senate adopted   Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 20,   Nays 11.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 8 passed the House, with   amendments, on May 25, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 86,   Nays 47, one present not voting; May 29, 2025, House granted   request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;   June 1, 2025, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the   following vote:  Yeas 89, Nays 52, one present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________               Date       ______________________________              Governor