HB489
Restorative justice practices; definitions, effect of participation, immunity from civil liability.
Status:
In Conference
Latest Action:
March 14, 2026
House: Failed to Pass from conference
Chief Patron:
Patrick Hope (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Restorative justice practices.
Provides that participation in a restorative justice practice, as defined in the bill, shall not be used as evidence or as an admission of guilt, delinquency, or civil liability in current or subsequent legal proceedings against any participant. The bill also provides that restorative justice communications, defined in the bill, ... (More) are not admissible in, or subject to discovery for, any legal proceeding, and disclosure of such communications shall not be compelled in any judicial or administrative proceeding, arbitration, or mediation. The bill prohibits any person involved in a restorative justice practice, as defined in the bill, from testifying about any phase of such practice in any judicial or administrative proceeding, arbitration, or mediation except in certain circumstances enumerated in the bill. Lastly, the bill provides civil immunity for any person, who in good faith, discloses any restorative justice communication based on his belief that such disclosure is allowed pursuant to such provisions, provided that such disclosure was limited to solely address any such allowable disclosure. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105104D
- 01/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/07/2026 - House: Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
- 02/10/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/11/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 02/11/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
- 02/12/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/13/2026 - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
- 02/13/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26107493D-H1
- 02/15/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/16/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/16/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/16/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/17/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (61-Y 36-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (8-Y 6-N)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26109133D-S1
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/10/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Floor Offered
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Senator Perry Substitute withdrawn
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Floor offered
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Senator Surovell Amendment agreed to
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - substitute with amendment
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/12/2026 - House: Senate substitute with amendment rejected by House (1-Y 95-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate insisted on substitute with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate requested conference committee
- 03/12/2026 - House: House acceded to request
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Hope, Keys-Gamarra, Kilgore
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Perry, Favola, McDougle
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate insisted on substitute with amendment
- 03/14/2026 - House: No further action taken
- 03/14/2026 - House: Failed to Pass from conference
- 03/14/2026 - House: Failed to Pass from conference
