H.B. No. 1410 aims to prohibit the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from housing inmates in facilities operated by private vendors. The bill introduces a new section, 493.036, to the Government Code, which explicitly states that the department cannot confine inmates sentenced to imprisonment, those described by Section 507.002, or individuals outlined in Section 493.009(a) in private facilities, with the exception of residential correctional facilities as defined by Section 508.157. Additionally, the bill adds Section 495.0011, which prohibits the board from entering into contracts for housing inmates in private facilities under similar conditions, again with the exception of residential correctional facilities.

The provisions of this bill will apply to the housing or confinement of individuals as described in the new sections from the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Contracts entered into or renewed before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law at the time of their execution. This legislation reflects a significant shift in policy regarding the management of inmate housing in Texas, emphasizing a move away from privatization in the correctional system.

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