AUSTIN, TX – State Rep. Sam Harless (HD 126) has formally requested an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding whether elected constables in Harris County are entitled to the same compensation increases as the county sheriff under a new state law.
The request centers on House Bill 4205, which was passed during the 89th Legislative Session and took effect on September 1, 2025. The law requires the Harris County Commissioners Court to apply any compensation or employment benefit increases uniformly across all police officers within the same class. It also prohibits budget reductions to any affected agency as a result of enforcing this parity.
In the request dated October 9, 2025, Harless argues that the current 2025-2026 Harris County budget does not provide elected constables with salaries equal to that of the sheriff, despite their statutory law enforcement duties and oversight of large precinct operations.
Harless submitted two formal questions to the Attorney General’s Office:
- Whether the disparity in compensation between the sheriff and elected constables violates the statutory requirement or intent of HB 4205, assuming they are considered part of the same class of peace officers.
- Whether Harris County should modify its adopted budget to bring salaries into compliance with the pay parity provisions outlined in HB 4205.
A response from the Office of the Attorney General is pending.
