TX SB554

Legal permanent residents of the United States may obtain a county jailer license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) without being required to be military veterans or have applied for U.S. citizenship, unlike other law enforcement positions

Political subdivisions may hire legal permanent residents as county jailers if they hold a valid county jailer license issued by TCOLE

For law enforcement positions other than county jailer, legal permanent residents must still be honorably discharged military veterans with at least two years of service and must have applied for U.S. citizenship

Law enforcement agencies hiring county jailers must verify either U.S. citizenship or legal permanent resident status as part of the pre-employment background check process

TCOLE must amend its rules by December 1, 2025, with the new hiring requirements applying to hires made on or after that date; the act takes effect September 1, 2025