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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-09-01
SB663

Regular Session

Relating to the approval of a community supervision and corrections department's budget and strategic plan.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

SB663: Government Affairs Overview

Senate Bill 663 fundamentally centralizes the governance of Texas Community Supervision and Corrections Departments (CSCDs), transferring final budgetary and strategic planning authority from local Judicial Districts to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD). This shift removes local judges from the fiscal approval chain, requiring all CSCD vendors and contractors to align procurement cycles and contract terms with state-level administration rather than local county oversight.

Sen. Joan Huffman·Senate Bill·Regular Session

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01

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SB663
Moderate
Relating to the approval of a community supervision and corrections department's budget and strategic plan.
Moderate Compliance Urgency
Requires near-term attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
CJAD
Primary Author: Sen. Joan Huffman
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
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Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: March 1, 2026 (Deadline for the first revised Strategic Plan submission); however, internal budget preparations for the 2026-2027 biennium must align with CJAD standards immediately upon the effective date.
  • Agency Rulemaking: CJAD is expected to issue technical guidance regarding data standards and "state aid eligibility" metrics in late 2025. No statutory deadline for rules is set, creating a potential regulatory gray zone in Q4 2025 regarding data formatting.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Active Contracts: Identify all agreements tied to "Judicial approval" and prepare amendments referencing CJAD authority before September 1, 2025.
  • Adjust Sales Cycles: Move proposal timelines to align with the State Legislative and CJAD biennial budget cycle (Spring/Summer of odd-numbered years).
  • Update Data Exports: IT vendors must contact CJAD immediately post-enactment to obtain preliminary data dictionary requirements for the March 2026 reporting deadline.
  • Bypass County Filing: Update internal compliance checklists to stop filing CSCD financial documents with County Commissioners Courts after the effective date.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • "Funding Out" Clauses: Legal teams must review all Master Services Agreements (MSAs). Clauses conditioning payment or termination on "Judicial District approval" or "County funding" must be amended to reference "TDCJ-CJAD approval."
  • Cycle Alignment: Vendor contracts must now align with the State fiscal biennium (Sept 1 – Aug 31) rather than varying county fiscal years to ensure funding continuity.

Hiring/Training

  • Administrative Retraining: CSCD fiscal officers and vendor account managers must be retrained on CJAD-specific submission portals and budget formats, moving away from local county auditor protocols.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • New Filing Protocol: CSCDs must submit budgets and strategic plans directly to CJAD by March 1 of each even-numbered year.
  • Discontinued Filing: CSCDs are no longer required to file financial records or budgets with the County Commissioners Court (statutory exemption from Local Government Code Sec. 140.004).
  • Data Exports: Vendors providing Case Management Systems (CMS) or SaaS solutions must prepare to export performance data (recidivism, caseloads) in formats mandated by CJAD to support state aid eligibility determinations.

Fees & Costs

  • Cash Flow Impact: While there are no new statutory fees, the shift to centralized state approval may alter payment processing timelines. Vendors should anticipate potential delays during the initial transition from local to state authorization.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Judicial "Review" vs. State "Approval": The statute downgrades local Judges to a "review" capacity but does not define the resolution process if a Judge formally objects to a CJAD-approved budget. Business Logic: Do not wait for local consensus. Ensure your contract is valid based on CJAD approval, as that is the controlling factor for state aid.
  • "Necessary Data" Definition: The law grants CJAD broad discretion to request data "necessary to determine state aid." Until CJAD publishes technical specifications, IT vendors face uncertainty regarding required database fields and reporting schemas.

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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.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Dec 19, 2024
Passed Senate
Apr 24, 2025
Passed House
May 23, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Sep 1, 2025
TopicsCorrectionsCorrections--parole, Probation & PardonsState FinancesState Finances--management & ControlCriminal Justice, Texas Department of
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Senate Authors

Sen. Joan HuffmanRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsors

Rep. Mano DeAyalaRepublican · Primary Sponsor
Joint Sponsors

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Joan Huffman

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB663

Q

What does Texas SB663 do?

Senate Bill 663 fundamentally centralizes the governance of Texas Community Supervision and Corrections Departments (CSCDs), transferring final budgetary and strategic planning authority from local Judicial Districts to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD). This shift removes local judges from the fiscal approval chain, requiring all CSCD vendors and contractors to align procurement cycles and contract terms with state-level administration rather than local county oversight.

Q

Who authored SB663?

SB663 was authored by Texas Senator Joan Huffman during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB663 signed into law?

SB663 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB663?

SB663 is enforced by Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD).

Q

How significant are the changes in SB663?

The regulatory priority for SB663 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB663?

The cost impact of SB663 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB663 address?

SB663 addresses topics including corrections, corrections--parole, probation & pardons, state finances, state finances--management & control and criminal justice, texas department of.

Q

What are the key dates for SB663?

Key dates for SB663: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

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.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026