SB1946

Regular Session

Relating to the creation of a family violence criminal homicide prevention task force.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Office of the Governor (Criminal Justice Division)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: N/A for immediate operations. The critical strategic deadline is December 1, 2026, when the Task Force must submit its report.
Agency Rulemaking: No immediate rulemaking is authorized. However, the Task Force is time-limited (abolished Jan 1, 2028), meaning their recommendations will likely be fast-tracked into agency rules or legislation in early 2027.

Immediate Action Plan

Seek Appointment: If you represent a family violence center (rural or urban) or a statewide legal aid organization, prepare nomination packages for the Governor’s Office immediately to ensure your operational reality is represented on the Task Force.
Audit Data Privacy: Review client confidentiality protocols and data-sharing agreements now to determine what aggregate data can be legally shared with the state if requested by the Task Force.
Monitor Proceedings: Assign a compliance officer to track the Task Force’s agenda; their discussions regarding "risk factors" will preview the 2027 legislative agenda and future grant conditions.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

No immediate amendments are required for current contracts. However, organizations receiving grants from the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division (CJD) or Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) must anticipate that FY 2027 grant renewals will incorporate new scope-of-work clauses based on the Task Force's recommendations regarding victim services and prevention protocols.

Hiring/Training

The Task Force is mandated to advise state agencies on training for professionals. Expect future state contracts to require specific certifications or training modules for staff handling family violence intake. Providers should prepare for these likely "unfunded mandates" in future budget cycles.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

There are no new statutory mandates to generate *new* records. However, family violence centers and healthcare providers should audit their current data systems (intake forms and incident reports) to ensure they can segregate and anonymize "risk factor" data. The Task Force is required to "collect and analyze" this data, and you should be prepared to respond to voluntary data requests.

Fees & Costs

There are no new fees imposed by this bill. Cost impacts are currently limited to the administrative time required to monitor Task Force proceedings and potential future training costs.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Data Access Authority: The bill requires the Task Force to "collect and analyze" data but does not grant subpoena power. It remains unclear how the Task Force will compel private or non-profit entities to share proprietary or privileged client data if those entities are unwilling to volunteer it.
Foreseeability Standards: The Task Force is charged with identifying "top risk factors" for homicide. Once these factors are published in the 2026 report, they may establish a new legal standard of "foreseeability" in civil litigation. If a provider fails to screen for a risk factor formally identified by this state body, it could be used to argue negligence in future liability lawsuits.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsCrime Prevention Crimes Crimes--against Persons Crimes--against Persons--general Family Family--family Violence Governor State Agencies, Boards & Commissions State Agencies, Boards & Commissions--newly Proposed University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston Attorney General Commission On Law Enforcement, Texas Court Administration, Office of Family & Protective Services, Department of Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force Health & Human Services Commission State Health Services, Department of Criminal Justice Division, Governor's Office Law Enforcement, Texas Commission On

Official Analysis

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BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1946
89R14217 MZM-F	By: Zaffirini
	Criminal Justice
	4/25/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Family violence homicides are a heartbreaking yet preventable tragedy in Texas. Despite efforts at both the legislative and community levels, the number of Texans murdered by an intimate partner has remained alarmingly high since 2020. Each year more than 200 Texans�primarily women�lose their lives to this violence, highlighting the urgent need for stronger prevention and intervention strategies.

To address this crisis, S.B. 1946 would establish a two-year, time-limited lethality factor taskforce to develop policy recommendations for Texas' 90th Legislature. This taskforce would be modeled after the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force, develop strategies to reduce and prevent family violence homicides, and improve training and service coordination. The task force would bring together key stakeholders including law enforcement, the criminal and civil legal systems, healthcare professionals, family violence centers, and survivors to strengthen collaboration, improve response efforts, and implement evidence-based strategies that save lives.

As proposed, S.B. 1946 amends current law relating to the creation of a family violence criminal homicide prevention task force.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, by adding Section 772.0065, as follows:

Sec. 772.0065. FAMILY VIOLENCE CRIMINAL HOMICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE. (a) Defines "criminal homicide," "family violence," "steering committee," and "task force."

(b) Requires the governor to establish the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force (task force) within the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 (Governor's Criminal Justice Division).

(c) Requires the task force to include a steering committee composed of the following members: the governor or the governor's designee and the chief executive officer of a statewide family violence advocacy organization or the chief executive officer's designee.

(d) Provides that the task force is composed of certain members appointed by the steering committee.

(e) Provides that an appointed member serves at the pleasure of the steering committee.

(f) Requires the governor to designate one member of the task force to serve as the presiding officer.

(g) Requires the task force to meet at the call of the presiding officer.

(h) Requires the task force to use any available federal or state funding for the purposes of this section.

(i) Authorizes the steering committee to establish one or more working groups, composed of members of the task force, to focus on specific issues regarding the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of family violence criminal homicide.

(j) Requires the task force to analyze the top risk factors that may lead to family violence criminal homicide, advise and provide resources to state agencies and nonprofit organizations to develop and improve training for professionals who interact with survivors of family violence, collect, analyze, and make publicly available information, organized by region, regarding certain topics, and develop policy recommendations to assist the state in certain efforts.

(k) Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the task force.

(l) Provides that a task force member who is not employed by a state agency or an individual invited by the presiding officer to participate in a scheduled task force meeting is entitled to certain payments.

(m) Requires the task force, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a written report containing the task force's findings and recommendations for legislative or other action.

(n) Provides that the task force is abolished and this section expires January 1, 2028.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Author

Coauthors (3)

House Sponsors

Rep. Christian ManuelDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Joint Sponsors

Linda Garcia (D)

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 1946

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of a family violence criminal homicide
	prevention task force.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 772.0065 to read as follows:
	Sec. 772.0065. FAMILY VIOLENCE CRIMINAL HOMICIDE
	PREVENTION TASK FORCE. (a) In this section:
	(1) "Criminal homicide" means an offense under Chapter
	19, Penal Code.
	(2) "Family violence" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 71.004, Family Code.
	(3) "Steering committee" means the steering committee
	of the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force
	established by Subsection (c).
	(4) "Task force" means the Family Violence Criminal
	Homicide Prevention Task Force established by this section.
	(b) The governor shall establish the Family Violence
	Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force within the criminal justice
	division established under Section 772.006.
	(c) The task force shall include a steering committee
	composed of the following members:
	(1) the governor or the governor's designee; and
	(2) the chief executive officer of a statewide family
	violence advocacy organization or the chief executive officer's
	designee.
	(d) The task force is composed of the following members
	appointed by the governor:
	(1) four representatives who are employees or
	contractors of a family violence center, as defined by Section
	51.002, Human Resources Code, from different regions across the
	state, representing both rural and urban areas;
	(2) one representative from an organization that
	operates statewide and provides legal services to victims of family
	violence;
	(3) one representative from each state agency that has
	duties relating to the prevention, investigation, or prosecution of
	family violence or that provides services to survivors of family
	violence, including:
	(A) the office of the attorney general;
	(B) the Health and Human Services Commission;
	(C) the Office of Court Administration;
	(D) the Department of State Health Services; and
	(E) the Department of Family and Protective
	Services;
	(4) one representative from the family violence
	program operated by the Health and Human Services Commission;
	(5) one representative from the Center for Violence
	Prevention at The University of Texas Health Science Center at
	Houston;
	(6) the president of the Texas District and County
	Attorneys Association or the president's designee;
	(7) the executive director of the Texas Municipal
	Police Association or the executive director's designee;
	(8) the executive director of the Texas Commission on
	Law Enforcement or the executive director's designee;
	(9) one representative of the Texas Violent Death
	Reporting System;
	(10) one representative from a domestic violence high
	risk team described by Section 402.039;
	(11) two survivors of family violence;
	(12) the governor or the governor's designee;
	(13) the chief executive officer of a statewide family
	violence advocacy organization or the chief executive officer's
	designee; and
	(14) additional members as considered appropriate by
	the governor.
	(e) An appointed member serves at the pleasure of the
	governor.
	(f) The governor or the governor's designee shall serve as
	the presiding officer.
	(g) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding
	officer.
	(h) The task force shall use any available federal or state
	funding for the purposes of this section.
	(i) The steering committee may establish one or more working
	groups, composed of members of the task force, to focus on specific
	issues regarding the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of
	family violence criminal homicide.
	(j) The task force shall:
	(1) analyze the top risk factors that may lead to
	family violence criminal homicide;
	(2) advise and provide resources to state agencies and
	nonprofit organizations to develop and improve training for
	professionals who interact with survivors of family violence;
	(3) collect, analyze, and make publicly available
	information that is not privileged, confidential, or otherwise
	prohibited from disclosure by law, organized by region, regarding:
	(A) the prevention, investigation, and
	prosecution of family violence criminal homicide and other family
	violence offenses; and
	(B) services provided to family violence
	survivors, including a list of family violence advocacy
	organizations; and
	(4) develop policy recommendations to assist the state
	in:
	(A) effectively coordinating services to family
	violence survivors and funding to organizations that provide
	services to survivors; and
	(B) more effectively preventing, investigating,
	and prosecuting incidents of family violence criminal homicide.
	(k) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
	task force.
	(l) A task force member who is not employed by a state agency
	or an individual invited by the presiding officer to participate in
	a scheduled task force meeting is entitled to:
	(1) a per diem in the amount provided by the General
	Appropriations Act for each day the member performs duties as a task
	force member or the individual attends a task force meeting; and
	(2) reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
	incurred in performing duties as a member or participant of the task
	force, as applicable.
	(m) Not later than December 1, 2026, the task force shall
	submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
	the house of representatives a written report containing the task
	force's findings and recommendations for legislative or other
	action.
	(n) The task force is abolished and this section expires
	January 1, 2028.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 28, 2025

TO:	Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB1946 by Zaffirini (Relating to the creation of a family violence criminal homicide prevention task force.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Government Code to establish the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force within the Criminal Justice Division within the Office of the Governor (OOG). The bill would establish a steering committee composed two members, as described in the bill. The task force would be composed of at least 22 members, as described in the bill. Members of the task force would be appointed by the steering committee. Certain task force members or individuals would be entitled to a per diem and reimbursement, as applicable. The bill would direct the task force to submit a written report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House of Representatives not later than December 1, 2026. The task force would be abolished January 1, 2028.

The OOG anticipates administrative costs associated with the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force. It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor

LBB Staff:

JMc, MGol, KCu, LCO

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1946

What does Texas SB1946 do?

SB1946 establishes the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force, effective September 1, 2025. While this legislation imposes no immediate regulatory burdens or taxes on general commerce, it creates a strategic vehicle that will dictate future funding requirements and operational standards for non-profit service providers, healthcare systems, and state contractors. The Task Force’s findings, due December 2026, will likely form the basis for mandatory training protocols and data reporting requirements in the 2027 legislative session.

Who authored SB1946?

SB1946 was authored by Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini during the Regular Session.

When was SB1946 signed into law?

SB1946 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB1946?

SB1946 is enforced by Office of the Governor (Criminal Justice Division).

How urgent is compliance with SB1946?

The compliance urgency for SB1946 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB1946?

The cost impact of SB1946 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB1946 address?

SB1946 addresses topics including crime prevention, crimes, crimes--against persons, crimes--against persons--general and family.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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