AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of Senate Bill 21, the Bail Reform bill, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:

“Across Texas, repeat and violent offenders are being released on personal recognizance or very low bail by judges and magistrates who do not fully consider an offender’s violent history, putting Texas communities and law enforcement at risk. In 2020, over ten thousand crimes were committed by offenders out on bond. Lives have been lost. Senate Bill 21 reins in these bail practices and will help protect the law enforcement officers, and their communities as a whole.

“I appreciate Sen. Huffman’s leadership on these critical bail reforms and her commitment to public safety.”