Relating to the appointment of an interpreter in a criminal proceeding.
Bill overview
Relating to the appointment of an interpreter in a criminal proceeding.
Reference notes
SB 1537 sources, status methodology and verification
Sources
- SB 1537 official legislative recordPrimary bill-status record.
- Current official bill textOfficial bill text or printing.
Methodology
KeepTXRed treats the official legislative record and latest official action as the factual status layer for SB 1537. Status labels are normalized for browsing, while the legislative timeline and documents preserve official action text and source links. Any KeepTXRed explanation below is editorial context and remains separate from the official record.
Last verified
Legislative record synchronized August 29, 2026 at 2:55 PM UTC; latest recorded official action May 30, 2025.
Bill → law → agency context
This relationship layer distinguishes what the normalized official record can prove from what it cannot. Enactment and effective dates come from the bill record. Agency names below are shown only when an official fiscal document supplies a verified agency reference; being cited in a fiscal note does not by itself prove that the agency administers the resulting law.
Bill → law status
SB 1537 is recorded as enacted
- Current status
- Effective
- Signed
- May 30, 2025
- Effective
- May 30, 2025
Official fiscal-note agency context
No verified agency references are available from the latest parsed official fiscal material. KeepTXRed does not infer an administering agency from the bill topic or title.
KeepTXRed explanation
This reviewed explanation is separate from the official bill record and is provided for general information, not legal advice.
KeepTXRed summary
SB 1537 clarifies the appointment of interpreters in Texas criminal proceedings when a defendant or witness does not understand and speak English.
What would change
When any party moves for an interpreter or the court acts on its own motion and the court determines that the defendant or witness does not understand and speak English, the court must appoint an interpreter under Government Code Section 57.002. The Act also makes clear that a person may be compelled to appear as an interpreter subject to the same statutory framework.
Who may be affected
Criminal defendants and witnesses with limited English proficiency, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court interpreters and clerks.
When it would take effect
The Act took effect immediately on May 30, 2025 after receiving the required votes.
Limits and uncertainty
The Act clarifies appointment procedure; it does not reduce qualification requirements for interpreters or prevent a court from using an intermediary when the appointed interpreter lacks adequate skills for the particular situation.
Editorial sources and review notes
Final enrolled text and official TLO analysis reviewed; immediate-effect threshold satisfied.
Editorial explanation reviewed 9/5/2026.
Current status
Effective
Effective immediately
Latest official action
Effective immediately
May 30, 2025 · senate
Who this bill may affect
A verified audience or subject classification has not been attached to this bill yet.
Use the bill overview and official documents to determine whether the proposal may apply to you, your business, or a public agency.
Sponsors
Committee history
- Criminal Justice
Out of committee
- Criminal Jurisprudence
Out of committee
Legislative timeline
Effective immediately
senate · effective
Official recordSigned by the Governor
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Official recordSigned in the House
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Official recordSigned in the Senate
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Official recordStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
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Official recordPassed to 3rd reading
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Official recordPlaced on General State Calendar
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Official recordConsidered in Calendars
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Official recordComte report filed with Committee Coordinator
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Official recordReported favorably w/o amendment(s)
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Official recordTestimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
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Official recordReferred to Criminal Jurisprudence
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Official recordThree day rule suspended
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Official recordRead 2nd time & passed to engrossment
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Official recordLaid before the Senate
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Official recordPlaced on local & uncontested calendar
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Official recordNot again placed on intent calendar
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Official recordCo-author authorized
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Official recordPlaced on intent calendar
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Official recordCommittee report printed and distributed
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Official recordRecommended for local & uncontested calendar
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Official recordScheduled for public hearing on . . .
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Official recordReferred to Criminal Justice
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Official recordRead first time
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Official recordFiled
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Official recordReceived by the Secretary of the Senate
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Official record
Official bill text
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Related articles
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Related content
Ranked by official relationships such as sponsorship, committee referral, district, election, session, and direct news coverage.
Representative: john smithee
sponsor
Representative: judith zaffirini
author
Representative: royce west
coauthor
District: texas house district 86
sponsor district
District: texas senate district 21
sponsor district
District: texas senate district 23
sponsor district