SB2580

Regular Session

Relating to the definition of a designated law enforcement office or agency for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Sheriff's departments in counties with a population of 500,000 or more (Expansion of authority)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Your intake teams must be ready to validate orders from the expanded list on this date).
Agency Rulemaking: None. This is a statutory definition change; no regulatory agency will issue further guidance.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Audit Jurisdiction List: Immediately map Texas counties by population using 2020 Census data to identify the newly qualifying jurisdictions (500k+).
2. Update Software Logic: Reconfigure intake portals to flag Sheriff's Department requests from the newly qualifying counties as "Valid" starting September 1.
3. Notify Vendors: Send formal notice to outside counsel or compliance vendors regarding the statutory change.
4. Brief LERT Managers: Ensure managers understand that rejecting a valid order from a newly authorized Sheriff (e.g., Denton County) after Sept 1 could result in immediate contempt of court proceedings.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Third-Party Compliance Vendors: If you outsource subpoena/warrant response (e.g., to a dedicated LERT vendor), you must issue a directive requiring them to update their "authorized agency" logic by September 1. You remain liable for their rejection of valid orders or acceptance of invalid ones.
Privacy Policies: Review "Disclosure to Law Enforcement" clauses. Ensure internal definitions of "valid legal process" align with this statutory expansion to prevent breach of contract claims from users.

Hiring/Training

Intake Staff Training: Law Enforcement Response Teams (LERT) must be retrained. Staff can no longer assume only major metro PDs or the Harris County Sheriff have this authority.
Validation Protocols: Staff must be trained to verify the *requesting agency's jurisdiction population*, not just the judge's signature.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

"White List" Expansion: Update your internal database of authorized requestors. You must add Sheriff’s Departments for counties including Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, Collin, Denton, Hidalgo, El Paso, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Williamson.
Rejection Logging: Maintain a specific log for requests rejected because the Sheriff's county population is *under* 500,000. This is your primary defense against contempt of court allegations.

Fees & Costs

Cost Impact: Low.
Reimbursement: Standard reimbursement rates for assembling and providing data under the Code of Criminal Procedure still apply; this bill does not alter fee schedules, only the volume of potential requests.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Population Data Source: The statute specifies "population of 500,000 or more" but does not define the controlling data source (e.g., 2020 Decennial Census vs. current Annual Estimates).
*Risk:* "Bubble" counties (e.g., those with 490k in 2020 but 510k in 2024).
*Guidance:* Adhere to the 2020 Decennial Census as the strict legal standard until the Attorney General issues an opinion allowing the use of estimates. Accepting an order based on estimates carries a risk of wrongful disclosure liability.
Task Forces: A Sheriff from a small (unauthorized) county may attempt to issue an order while participating in a task force hosted by a large (authorized) county.
*Guidance:* The *signatory agency* on the application controls. If the applicant is the Sheriff of a small county, the request is invalid, regardless of task force affiliation.

Need Help Understanding Implementation?

Our government affairs experts can walk you through this bill's specific impact on your operations.

Schedule Consultation

Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsCounty Government County Government--employees/officers Crime Prevention Law Enforcement Safety Utilities Utilities--telecommunications Sheriffs

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2580
89R15151 JCG-D	By: Hancock
	Criminal Justice
	4/16/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Emergency "pings" are used to identify the location of an individual during a crisis situation that would classify as an exigent circumstance. Such situations can include�but are not limited to�search and rescues, kidnapping, hostages, escaped inmates, or fleeing suspects for murder or dangerous offenses. To execute a "ping," a law enforcement agency must follow specific procedures, processes, and training.

Current law allows only certain law enforcement agencies to execute an emergency "ping" on a phone number during situations of an exigent circumstance. While the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General, the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice Office of Inspector General, and larger cities are allowed to execute such "pings" on their own, only the Harris County Sheriff's Office has this capability for county law enforcement. Every other metropolitan sheriff's office must currently seek assistance from one of the aforementioned entities or the Texas Department of Public Safety to execute a "ping" on their behalf.

S.B. 2580 seeks to allow more sheriffs capability in utilizing emergency "pings" in exigent circumstances.

As proposed, S.B. 2580 amends current law relating to the definition of a designated law enforcement office or agency for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.

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 Article 18B.001(4), Code of Criminal Procedure, to redefine "designated law enforcement office or agency" to include the sheriff's department of a county with a population of 500,000 or more, rather than 3.3 million or more.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Kelly HancockRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsors

Rep. Nate SchatzlineRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Joint Sponsors

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 2580

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the definition of a designated law enforcement office
	or agency for purposes of certain laws governing the installation
	and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Article 18B.001(4), Code of Criminal Procedure,
	is amended to read as follows:
	(4) "Designated law enforcement office or agency"
	means:
	(A) the sheriff's department of a county with a
	population of 500,000 [~~3.3 million~~] or more;
	(B) a police department in a municipality with a
	population of 200,000 or more;
	(C) the office of inspector general of the Texas
	Department of Criminal Justice; or
	(D) the office of inspector general of the Texas
	Juvenile Justice Department.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 21, 2025

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

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB2580 by Hancock (Relating to the definition of a designated law enforcement office or agency for purposes of certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

There could be an impact to counties that would be required to install and use tracking equipment and provide access to certain communications.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JMc, MGol, BC, CWi

Related Legislation

Explore more bills from this author and on related topics

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB2580

What does Texas SB2580 do?

SB2580 significantly expands the list of law enforcement agencies authorized to issue tracking and interception orders (pen registers/trap and trace) by lowering the population threshold for Sheriff’s Departments from 3. 3 million to 500,000. Telecommunications carriers, ISPs, and digital platforms must immediately update their legal compliance verification protocols to accept orders from these newly authorized counties while continuing to reject requests from smaller jurisdictions to avoid wrongful disclosure liability.

Who authored SB2580?

SB2580 was authored by Texas Senator Kelly Hancock during the Regular Session.

When was SB2580 signed into law?

SB2580 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB2580?

SB2580 is enforced by Sheriff's departments in counties with a population of 500,000 or more (Expansion of authority).

How urgent is compliance with SB2580?

The compliance urgency for SB2580 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB2580?

The cost impact of SB2580 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB2580 address?

SB2580 addresses topics including county government, county government--employees/officers, crime prevention, law enforcement and safety.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

Need Strategic Guidance on This Bill?

Need help with Government Relations, Lobbying, or compliance? JD Key Consulting has the expertise you're looking for.