Gov. Greg Abbott to sign bail reform bills in Houston as THC ban’s future remains in limbo

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Gov. Greg Abbott is in Houston to sign a bail reform package into law Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Bill 9 would restrict who is eligible for cashless bonds and allow the state to appeal bail decisions.

“Today, that pain is answered. Because of what you and your families have been through, not only are we signing laws to correct the laws that caused you to suffer, but your efforts have led to a rewriting of the constitution of the state of Texas to ensure criminals like those who harmed your family will never be out on the loose again,” Abbot said.

Abbott will also approve Senate Joint Resolution 5, a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would make it legal to deny bail for certain violent crimes. That will be put up to the voters in November.

Opponents argue SB9 is unconstitutional, and directly goes against the idea that you are innocent until proven guilty. There’s also concern that already overfilled prisons don’t have the room. ABC13 asked Abbott what resources jails will receive now that more people will face pre-trial detention.

“We had the good fortune of having in our meeting room and debate room, Sheriff AG Waterback, who weighed in on that, did the calculation of what this would mean to jails across the state of Texas, was in contact with the sheriff’s association, and other officials around the state of Texas, to do the calculations, and we feel the jails will be capable of doing that. To the extent they are not, we as a state will be capable to respond to that and be able to make sure they have the resources they need,” Abbott said.

It’s worth noting that in Harris County, the jail has fallen in and out of compliance because of complications like understaffing and overpopulation. Earlier this year, ABC13 reported that the Texas attorney general needed be step in to bring the jail back into compliance.

Brent Mayr, who is the Harris County Criminal Lawyer Association president, is urging voters to vote against the Texas constitution amendment, saying SB9 goes too far.

“The Texas constitution already has a good mechanism in place so prosecutors can ask judges to hold people without bail when they are accused of committing new crimes when out on bail for one felony offense. That is good legislation. That is in our Texas constitution. It’s valid and can work when prosecutors want to apply it,” Mayr said.

Bond reform is not the only thing resting on the governor’s pen at the moment.

He is facing intense political pressure over a pending tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, ban, which is getting a lot of attention.

There are several boxes of letters asking the governor to veto the bill banning hemp products containing THC.

As of now, you can legally buy products like gummies, drinks, and more.

The ban has been pushed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Abbott hasn’t said whether or not he will veto the bill, which has been opposed by small business owners, the hemp industry, and veterans who say the products help with issues such as PTSD.

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