The Texas Senate on Aug. 27 passed House Bill 192, which sets conditions under which counties with populations over a stated threshold must hold elections before reducing funding or resources for certain primary law enforcement agencies and prohibits some transfers from sheriff and constable appropriations to other county accounts. The measure passed on final Senate action during the special session; the roll calls recorded votes generally at 21 ayes and 5 nays.

Senator Bettencourt described HB 192 as requiring counties with populations over 3,300,000 to hold elections for reductions of funding for primary law enforcement agencies and as prohibiting transfers from office appropriations for sheriffs or constables to county general funds. The sponsor said the intent is to ensure funds appropriated to those offices are used as the legislature prescribed and to prevent reallocation without voter approval in large counties.

Opponents said the bill creates inefficiencies and unnecessary duplication in law enforcement and could jeopardize public safety in emergencies by delaying reallocations. Senator Cook urged a “no” vote, saying the bill could waste taxpayer dollars and create bureaucratic delays, and warned of potential public safety consequences if emergency reallocations were delayed by required elections.

The floor record shows the Senate moved through suspension, second and third readings and ultimately recorded final passage. The transcript does not include the enrolled bill text or the statutory cross‑references beyond the speaker summaries, and it does not document any immediate administrative steps or fiscal notes beyond the floor comments.

The final vote on the Senate floor is recorded in the transcript as consistent with the other large bills considered during the session; the provided excerpt indicates the bill was passed in the special session with a majority vote.