Regular Session
Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis
HB2697 imposes a strict new pre-condition on bail bond sureties attempting to surrender a principal charged with a felony: you must notify the attorney representing the State (DA or County Attorney) before filing your affidavit. Failure to provide this notice and attest to it in your filing renders the surrender defective, maintaining your full liability on the bond.
Rep. Rafael Anchia·House Bill·Regular Session
Offices of District and County Attorneys • Texas Criminal Courts
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Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
The statute explicitly requires notice to the *Principal's Defense Counsel* via Rule 21a (Texas Rules of Civil Procedure), but Subsection (a-1) requires notice to the *State* without explicitly mandating Rule 21a methods.
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This bill's path through the Texas Legislature
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Common questions about HB2697
HB2697 imposes a strict new pre-condition on bail bond sureties attempting to surrender a principal charged with a felony: you must notify the attorney representing the State (DA or County Attorney) before filing your affidavit. Failure to provide this notice and attest to it in your filing renders the surrender defective, maintaining your full liability on the bond.
HB2697 was authored by Texas Representative Rafael Anchia during the Regular Session.
HB2697 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
HB2697 is enforced by Offices of District and County Attorneys and Texas Criminal Courts.
The regulatory priority for HB2697 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.
The cost impact of HB2697 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
HB2697 addresses topics including criminal procedure, criminal procedure--bail & pretrial release and criminal procedure--general.
Key dates for HB2697: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.
HB2697 establishes the following penalties: administrative penalty of Invalidation of Surrender for Failure to notify the state's attorney prior to filing the surrender affidavit results in a defective filing, maintaining surety liability.. Consult with legal counsel for specific applicability to your situation.
JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.
