Rep. Toni Rose introduced HB 2777, a bill on Courts, Crimes, and Criminal Procedure, to the Texas House on Thursday, Feb. 13 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with severe mental illness’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to restrict the applicability of the death penalty for defendants with severe mental illnesses, specifically those with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder that significantly impairs their ability to appreciate the nature, consequences, or wrongfulness of their conduct, or to exercise rational judgment at the time of a capital offense. Defendants intending to present evidence of severe mental illness must notify the court at least 30 days before the trial, and failure to do so may render such evidence inadmissible unless good cause is shown. A jury will determine if the defendant was severely mentally ill when committing the offense, requiring clear and convincing evidence from the defendant. If affirmed, the judge will sentence the defendant to life imprisonment without parole. A disinterested expert may be appointed to assess the mental condition of the defendant. The bill takes effect Sept. 1, 2025, and applies to trials starting on or after this date.
Toni Rose, the vice chair of the House Committee on Calendars, proposed another four bills during the 89(R) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Article II, and a member of the House Committee on Human Services.
Toni Rose is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 110th House district. She replaced previous state representative Barbara Mallory Caraway in 2013.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | HB 2809 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide |
| 89(R) | HB 2808 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the administration by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs of a homeless housing and services program for youth and young adults |
| 89(R) | HB 2807 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the statewide intellectual and developmental disability coordinating council |
| 89(R) | HB 2402 | 02/04/2025 | Relating to the determination of fees, charges, and rates for certain benefits under Medicaid |
| 88(R) | HB 4951 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the Medicare Primacy Coordination Audit and Assistance Program to assist eligible individuals in obtaining certain Medicare benefits |
| 88(R) | HB 4065 | 03/08/2023 | Relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide |
| 88(R) | HB 3550 | 03/06/2023 | Relating to standards for and services provided by prescribed pediatric extended care centers, including Medicaid reimbursement for those services |
| 88(R) | HB 2802 | 02/24/2023 | Relating to the Medicaid application form and communication with Medicaid recipients |
| 88(R) | HB 12 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to the duration of services provided under Medicaid to women following a pregnancy |
| 88(R) | HB 2479 | 02/17/2023 | Relating to parental approval for the participation of certain students in human sexuality instruction in public schools |
| 88(R) | HB 2181 | 02/10/2023 | Relating to the administration by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs of a homeless housing and services program for youth and young adults |
| 88(R) | HB 1803 | 01/30/2023 | Relating to the eligibility of certain individuals to purchase Medicare supplement benefit plans |
| 88(R) | HB 1473 | 01/19/2023 | Relating to the standard service and disability retirement benefits for members of the employee class of the Employees Retirement System of Texas |
| 88(R) | HB 1481 | 01/19/2023 | Relating to sickle cell disease health care improvement and the sickle cell task force |
| 88(R) | HB 1488 | 01/19/2023 | Relating to sickle cell disease health care improvement and the sickle cell task force |
| 88(R) | HB 1383 | 01/18/2023 | Relating to procedures in a criminal case after a defendant is found competent to stand trial and to consequences arising from certain violations of those procedures |
| 88(R) | HB 1293 | 01/12/2023 | Relating to the reimbursement of prescription drugs under Medicaid and the child health plan program |
| 88(R) | HB 1184 | 01/05/2023 | Relating to access to criminal history record information for use in certain research or statistical projects |
| 88(R) | HB 725 | 11/16/2022 | Relating to prohibiting certain discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression |
| 88(R) | HB 726 | 11/16/2022 | Relating to the criteria for court-ordered inpatient and extended inpatient mental health services |
| 88(R) | HB 727 | 11/16/2022 | Relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with severe mental illness |
| 88(R) | HB 728 | 11/16/2022 | Relating to the statewide interagency aging services coordinating council |
| 88(R) | HB 729 | 11/16/2022 | Relating to the statewide intellectual and developmental disability coordinating council |
