According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 2594 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The changes introduced by the bill, expanding venue options for prosecuting certain theft-related offenses, particularly those involving intangible personal property, can be implemented within the scope of current judicial and prosecutorial resources. As such, the bill does not necessitate additional funding or personnel at the state level.

The fiscal note also indicates that local governments are unlikely to experience a significant fiscal effect as a result of the bill. Although the expanded venue options may lead to some procedural shifts in where cases are filed and tried, these changes are not expected to result in a material increase in caseloads or expenditures for local prosecutors or courts. Any related administrative or operational adjustments are anticipated to be minor and absorbable within existing budgets.

In summary, HB 2594 is considered fiscally neutral for both state and local government entities, with any implementation costs being minimal and manageable under current appropriations.

HB  2594 is a procedurally targeted criminal justice reform aimed at updating venue statutes to reflect the realities of cybercrime and theft of intangible personal property. Currently, Texas law restricts where theft-related offenses may be prosecuted, often to locations that are impractical or irrelevant in the context of virtual crimes. This outdated structure hampers the ability of law enforcement and prosecutors to effectively pursue offenders, particularly in cases involving digital assets like cryptocurrency or electronic fund transfers. HB 2594 remedies this by expanding venue options to include the county where the victim resides, where the defendant is apprehended, or where the defendant is extradited.

The bill also aligns venue provisions for theft and organized criminal activity with existing venue statutes for similar offenses, such as identity theft and computer crimes. This legal harmonization supports consistency in prosecution strategy, ensuring equitable treatment of digital and non-digital offenses alike. By recognizing the changing nature of personal property and the increasing prominence of intangible assets, the legislation enhances access to justice for victims and improves prosecutorial efficiency.

There are no significant fiscal implications for state or local governments, and the bill does not expand criminal penalties or introduce new regulatory burdens. Instead, it simply modernizes the procedural mechanics for bringing cases to trial. From a liberty-oriented standpoint, HB 2594 supports individual liberty and property rights by enabling effective enforcement against digital theft, without expanding the size or scope of government inappropriately.

Given its clear utility, legal consistency, victim-centered orientation, and minimal fiscal impact, HB 2594 aligns with the core principles of individual liberty, personal responsibility, private property rights, and limited government. Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 2594.

• Individual Liberty: The bill enhances individual liberty by improving victims' access to justice in cases involving theft of intangible personal property, such as funds stolen electronically or digital assets like cryptocurrency. Current venue statutes often prevent victims from seeking prosecution in their own county, leaving them effectively disenfranchised in the legal system. The bill empowers victims by allowing prosecution in the county where they reside, protecting their rights and reducing barriers to restitution and legal remedy.
• Personal Responsibility: The bill reinforces the principle that individuals must be held accountable for wrongdoing, even when crimes are committed across jurisdictional lines or through virtual means. By expanding the jurisdictions in which prosecutors may bring charges, the bill makes it more difficult for offenders to evade responsibility based on technicalities in venue law. It thus strengthens the moral and legal expectation that people answer for the harm they cause.
• Free Enterprise: For businesses, especially those operating digitally or across jurisdictions, the bill provides greater confidence in the legal system's ability to pursue cybercriminals. This predictability and protection support a freer, more secure market environment. It ensures that businesses investing in digital infrastructure have recourse when those assets are targeted by fraud or theft.
• Private Property Rights: The bill affirms and updates the state's recognition of private property in its modern forms. Just as the law protects tangible property from unlawful appropriation, the bill ensures that intangible assets, such as digital currencies, online financial accounts, and other non-physical holdings, receive equal protection. This modernized approach to venue law respects the evolving nature of private property in the digital economy.
• Limited Government: While the bill expands the options for where a case may be prosecuted, it does not expand government power in a substantive or intrusive way. It does not create new crimes, increase penalties, or authorize surveillance. Instead, it adjusts procedural rules in a narrowly tailored manner to reflect technological changes in criminal conduct. This respects the principle of limited government by targeting the change to areas of clear, justified public interest without overreach.