Texas Law Gives Sheriffs and Constables More Power Over Contracts

House Bill 40 is a new Texas law that changes how sheriffs and constables work in large counties. The law applies to counties with 3.3 million people or more. This includes Harris County, where Houston is located. The law gives sheriffs and constables the power to sign contracts on their own. They can make deals with residents, businesses, property owners associations, and other groups in their counties. These contracts allow sheriffs and constables to provide police services to these groups. The sheriff or constable does not need permission from the county commissioners court to sign these contracts. The law also protects how sheriffs and constables use money from these contracts. Counties cannot move that money to other accounts. Counties also cannot reduce the money they normally give to the sheriff or constable office just because they made contract money. The sheriff or constable controls how this contract money gets spent on police work. This bill limits the power of county commissioners courts in large counties. Before this law, county governments could stop sheriffs and constables from making these kinds of contracts. Now the sheriff and constable have more independence to run their offices and earn extra money through service contracts.