The Texas House approved legislation that requires counties operating jails to pursue warrant‑service agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and establishes a funded grant and reimbursement program to offset local costs.

Rep. Dustin Spiller laid out the floor substitute for SB 8, summing it as a statewide framework for cooperation between sheriffs and federal immigration authorities focused on the warrant‑service model in the 287(g) family of programs. “This substitute builds on the committee's work but improves clarity, consistency, and enforceability,” Spiller said.

Under the substitute, counties that operate or contract jail operations would be required to pursue a warrant‑service agreement allowing ICE to serve warrants and take custody of detainees already booked on state charges. The floor sponsor said the change narrows the scope to jail‑based warrants rather than broader task‑force deployments and pairs the requirement with a tiered grant program (reported during debate as ranging from about $5,000 to $40,000 depending on size) and an annual reimbursement mechanism for costs associated with holding ICE‑identified detainees.

Sheriff Louderback, who testified on the bill, argued the warrant‑service model is an established, workable approach and said it increases consistency and efficiency for county jails and federal partners. “This program works,” he told the House.

Opponents urged caution. Rep. Anchia and others said the bill risks deterring immigrants from calling police and could undermine public safety by breaking trust between community members and law enforcement. “This bill is not immigration reform,” Anchia said; “it is enforcement‑focused.” Several spoke about fear in immigrant communities and the possibility that people would avoid reporting crimes.

The substitute includes public‑facing transparency provisions: copies of local agreements must be posted online and the comptroller must publish grants and any gifts or donations earmarked for the program. The Attorney General is authorized to enforce compliance and recover costs if a sheriff refuses to comply, supporters said.

The House approved the bill on a recorded vote. Backers said the package balances mandatory participation with funding and transparency; critics called for broader federal‑level immigration policy solutions and warned of local impacts on immigrant communities’ trust in police.