HOUSTON – Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a historic bail reform package in Houston on Tuesday, one day after the 89th legislative session came to an end.
The bail reform measures, Senate Bill 9 and Senate Joint Resolution 5, will make it easier for officials to hold those facing serious felony charges in custody without bond.
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With the new measures, the Governor explained, judges will not be allowed to release violent criminals who have presented a risk to the public on bail. If they want to, they must present their reasoning to the public in writing.
“People are being slaughtered in Harris County and by people that government already has confined and then released,” said Governor Abbott. “What was needed here was a correction of governance to make sure our system was no longer broken."
It’s important to note because SJR 5 is a constitutional amendment, voters get the final say in November.
The press conference announcing the signing took place at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Crime Stoppers of Houston Community Room.
Governor Abbott named bail reform as one of the emergency items this legislative session and has called the current system “broken.”
Governor Abbott was joined by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Chairman John Smithee, along with Rania Mankarious, the CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston.
Dozens of crime victim families including Alexis Nungaray, the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, were present and stood behind the governor.
Another family who was present was the family of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez, who was shot and killed in the Gulfgate area three years ago.
Arlene’s aunt April Aguirre spoke to KPRC 2 in February about bail reform and why she believed the laws must be stricter.
“It feels like we’re not crazy anymore. Unfortunately, when Arlene passed away, we were dealing, it felt like swimming against the tide,” said Aguirre, after the governor signed the bail reform package today.
Arlene’s mother, Wendy Alvarez, said she thanked the governor.
“Today was a great outcome," said Alvarez. “It feels heartbreaking, but it feels like we’re doing everything right to get the whole community safe."
The governor is also expected to sign a number of other bills following the end of the legislative session.
These included the Ten Commandments bill, or Senate Bill 10, which would require all public schools display the Ten Commandments. Civil rights groups like the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas are threatening to sue the governor, if Senate Bill 10 is signed into law.
In a statement, ACLU wrote in part:
“S.B. 10 is blatantly unconstitutional. We will be working with Texas public school families to prepare a lawsuit to stop this violation of students’ and parents’ First Amendment rights.”
A bill also on the governor’s desk is Senate Bill 3, which would ban THC products.
The issue has faced backlash from industry leaders, business owners and veterans who claim THC products have helped with PTSD.
The governor said this bill, along with others, would need “careful consideration and evaluation.”
