HB 3439
AN ACT relating to the powers and duties of the office of the attorney
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Expands the subpoena and tracking equipment authorization for certain law enforcement agencies, including the Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and juvenile justice departments. It allows these agencies to issue administrative subpoenas to communication carriers and electronic service providers to obtain business records related to criminal investigations, and requires them to submit lists of authorized officers and report expenditures for tracking equipment. The changes primarily affect law enforcement agencies in counties with populations over 3.3 million and specific state departments, granting them broader investigative powers.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the powers and duties of the office of the attorney general with respect to certain laws governing the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 18B.001(4), Code of Criminal Procedure, (4) "Designated law enforcement office or agency" (A) the sheriff's department of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more; (B) a police department in a municipality with a (C) the office of inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; [or] (D) the office of inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; or (E) a division or section of the office of the attorney general that conducts criminal investigations. SECTION 2. Article 18B.252(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, (b) If the director of the department or the director's designee approves the policy submitted under Article 18B.251, the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the inspector general's designee, the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or the inspector general's designee, the attorney general or the attorney general's designee, or the sheriff or chief of a designated law enforcement agency or the sheriff's or chief's designee, as applicable, shall submit to the director a written list of all peace officers in the designated law enforcement office or agency who are authorized to possess, install, operate, or monitor pen registers, ESN readers, or similar SECTION 3. Article 18B.302(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, (a) The inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or the inspector general's designee, the attorney general, or the sheriff or chief of a designated law enforcement agency, as applicable, shall submit to the director of the department a written report of expenditures made by the designated law enforcement office or agency to purchase and maintain a pen register, ESN reader, or similar equipment SECTION 4. Article 18B.451, Code of Criminal Procedure, is Art. 18B.451. SUBPOENA AUTHORITY. The director of the department or the director's designee, the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the inspector general's designee, the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or the inspector general's designee, the attorney general or the attorney general's designee, or the sheriff or chief of a designated law enforcement agency or the sheriff's or chief's designee may issue an administrative subpoena to a communication common carrier or a provider of an electronic communications service to compel the production of any carrier's or service provider's business records that: (1) disclose information about: (A) the carrier's or service provider's (B) users of the services offered by the carrier (2) are material to a criminal investigation. SECTION 5. Article 18B.452, Code of Criminal Procedure, is Art. 18B.452. REPORT OF ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA. Not later than the 30th day after the date on which an administrative subpoena is issued under Article 18B.451, the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or the inspector general's designee, the attorney general, or the sheriff or chief of a designated law enforcement agency, as applicable, shall report to the department SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Law Enforcement and related subject areas.
Robert D. Miller
Haley Cornyn
Allen E. Blakemore
Michael J. Johnson
Vera Denise Rose
Gavin L. Massingill
Leslie Pardue
Fred Shannon
Sarah Hicks
Matthew Bentley
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the powers and duties of the office of the attorney
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