HB 1495

AN ACT relating to the prohibited release of personal information

House Bill Morales, Eddie | Morales, Christina | Martinez | Kitzman
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

This Texas bill protects personal information collected during jury selection by making such details confidential and preventing their unauthorized disclosure. The bill prohibits courts, attorneys, and court personnel from releasing sensitive information like social security numbers, juror questionnaire responses, and other personal details without court approval. Individuals reporting for jury duty will have their personal information safeguarded, with limited exceptions for disclosure only when "good cause" is demonstrated by a legal proceeding participant or news media representative.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the prohibited release of personal information
collected during the jury selection process.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 62.022 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.022.  PERSONAL INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL.  (a)
Except as provided by Subsection (b), personal information
collected by the court, a party, or a party's attorney during the
jury selection process about a person who reports for jury duty is
confidential and may not be disclosed by the court, a party, a
party's attorney, or any court personnel. Information considered
confidential under this subsection includes:
(C)  social security number; and
(2)  information provided in the juror questionnaire
required by Section 62.0132; and
(3)  any other personal information.
(b)  The court may authorize the disclosure of information
described by Subsection (a) only on submission of an application to
the court showing good cause for the disclosure by:
(1)  a party to the proceeding; or
(2)  a person acting in the actual discharge of the
person's duties as a member of the news media.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a person who reports for jury duty on or after the effective date
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the prohibited release of personal information