Texas 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Status: To Executive

SB 15 — Relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency regarding certain employees of the agency.

Last action — Point of order sustained

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced August 15, 2025. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 14 sponsors

    11 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    2 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

48 added · 62 removed

48 line(s) added, 62 removed.

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Latest
1-1 By:AAKing, et al.
By:AAKing, et al.
S.B.ANo.A15 1-2 (In the SenateA-AFiled AugustA15,A2025;
S.B.ANo.A15 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency regarding certain employees of the agency.
AugustA15,A2025, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 AugustA15,A2025, reported favorably by the following vote:
SECTIONA1.AASubchapter J, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.45351 to read as follows:
Yeas 9, 1-5 Nays 1;
Sec.
AugustA15,A2025, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE 1-7 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Yea Nay AbsentA PNV 1-8 HughesAAAAAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-9 PaxtonAAAAAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-10 BettencourtAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-11 BirdwellAAAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-12 HallAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAA AXA AAAAAAA AAA 1-13 Hinojosa of NuecesA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-14 MiddletonAAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-15 ParkerAAAAAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-16 PerryAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-17 SchwertnerAAAAAAAAA AXA AAA AAAAAAA AAA 1-18 ZaffiriniAAAAAAAAAA AAA AAA AAAXAAA AAA 1-19 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-20 AN ACT 1-21 relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency 1-22 regarding certain employees of the agency.
A1701.45351.AADEPARTMENT FILE.
1-23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
(a) In this section, "department file" means a file a law enforcement agency maintains for agency use for each license holder the agency employs.
1-24 SECTIONA1.AASubchapter J, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is 1-25 amended by adding Section 1701.45351 to read as follows:
(b)AAThe head of a law enforcement agency or the head s designee shall maintain a department file on each license holder the agency employs.
1-26 Sec.A1701.45351.AADEPARTMENT FILE.
(c)AAA department file must contain any letter, memorandum, or document relating to the license holder not included in a personnel file maintained as required under a policy adopted under Section 1701.4535, including any letter, memorandum, or document relating to alleged license holder misconduct for which the agency determines there is insufficient evidence to sustain the charge of misconduct.
(a) In this section, 1-27 "department file" means a file a law enforcement agency maintains 1-28 for agency use for each license holder the agency employs.
(d)AAIn accordance with Section 1701.451, a law enforcement agency hiring a license holder is entitled to review the contents of the license holder ’s department file maintained by each previous law enforcement agency employer.
1-29 (b)AAThe head of a law enforcement agency or the head s 1-30 designee shall maintain a department file on each license holder 1-31 the agency employs.
(e) AAA law enforcement agency shall provide the contents from S.B.ANo.A15 a license holder’s department file to the commission in accordance with:
1-32 (c)AAA department file must contain any letter, memorandum, 1-33 or document relating to the license holder not included in a 1-34 personnel file maintained as required under a policy adopted under 1-35 Section 1701.4535, including any letter, memorandum, or document 1-36 relating to alleged license holder misconduct for which the agency 1-37 determines there is insufficient evidence to sustain the charge of 1-38 misconduct.
(1)AAthe law enforcement agency’s policy adopted in compliance with Section 1701.4522(b)(1)(D);
1-39 (d)AAIn accordance with Section 1701.451, a law enforcement 1-40 agency hiring a license holder is entitled to review the contents of 1-41 the license holder s department file maintained by each previous 1-42 law enforcement agency employer.
or (2)AAa request by the commission as part of an ongoing investigation relating to the license holder.
1-43 (e)AAA law enforcement agency shall provide the contents from 1-44 a license holder’s department file to the commission in accordance 1-45 with:
(f)AAA department file maintained under this section is subject to disclosure only as required by law, including Chapter 2B and Article 39.14, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Section 511.021, Government Code.
1-46 (1)AAthe law enforcement agency’ s policy adopted in 1-47 compliance with Section 1701.4522(b)(1)(D);
(g) AAExcept as provided by Subsections (d), (e), and (f), a law enforcement agency may not release any information contained in a license holder’ s department file to any other agency or person requesting information relating to the license holder.
or 1-48 (2)AAa request by the commission as part of an ongoing 1-49 investigation relating to the license holder.
The agency shall refer the person or agency requesting the information to the agency head or the head ’s designee.
1-50 (f)AAA department file maintained under this section is 1-51 subject to disclosure only as required by law.
A department file maintained under this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
1-52 (g)AAExcept as provided by Subsections (d), (e), and (f), a 1-53 law enforcement agency may not release any information contained in 1-54 a license holder ’s department file to any other agency or person 1-55 requesting information relating to the license holder.
SECTION A2.AAThis Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.
The agency 1-56 shall refer the person or agency requesting the information to the 1-57 agency head or the head ’s designee.
A department file maintained 1-58 under this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure 1-59 under Chapter 552, Government Code.
1-60 SECTIONA2.AAThis Act takes effect on the 91st day after the 1-61 last day of the legislative session.
1-62 * * * * * 1
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Action History

  1. Point of order sustained

  2. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  3. Record vote

  4. Amendment tabled

  5. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  6. Record vote

  7. Amendment tabled

  8. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  9. Record vote

  10. Amendment tabled

  11. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  12. Record vote

  13. Amendment tabled

  14. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  15. Record vote

  16. Amendment tabled

  17. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  18. Record vote

  19. Amendment tabled

  20. Read 2nd time

  21. Placed on General State Calendar

  22. Considered in Calendars

  23. Committee report sent to Calendars

  24. Committee report distributed

  25. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator

  26. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

  27. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

  28. Considered in public hearing

  29. Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

  30. Read first time

  31. Received from the Senate

  32. Reported engrossed

  33. Reason for vote recorded in Journal

  34. Remarks ordered printed

  35. Remarks ordered printed

  36. Record vote

  37. Passed

  38. Read 3rd time

  39. Laid before the Senate

  40. Remarks ordered printed

  41. Record vote

  42. Passed to engrossment as amended

  43. Record vote

  44. Amendment fails of adoption

  45. Amendment(s) offered

  46. Record vote

  47. Amendment fails of adoption

  48. Amendment(s) offered

  49. Vote recorded in Journal

  50. Amended

  51. Amendment(s) offered

  52. Read 2nd time

  53. Record vote

  54. Rules suspended-Regular order of business

  55. Co-author authorized

  56. Committee report printed and distributed

  57. Reported favorably w/o amendments

  58. Vote taken in committee

  59. Testimony taken in committee

  60. Considered in public hearing

  61. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .

  62. Record vote

  63. Posting rule suspended

  64. Referred to State Affairs

  65. Read first time

  66. Filed

  67. Received by the Secretary of the Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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11 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 170 not signed on · 17 voted No

Sponsors (11)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (170)

170 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 170 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

passage

Passed 18 Yea · 12 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 181200
Total 181200
% of votes cast 60%40%0%0%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Adam Hinojosa — Yea
Angela Paxton — Yea
Bob Hall — Nay
Borris Miles — Nay
Brandon Creighton — Yea
Brent Hagenbuch — Yea
Brian Birdwell — Yea
Bryan Hughes — Yea
Carol Alvarado — Nay
Charles Perry — Yea
Charles Schwertner — Yea
César Blanco — Nay
Donna Campbell — Yea
Joan Huffman — Yea
José Menéndez — Nay
Juan Hinojosa — Nay
Judith Zaffirini — Nay
Kevin Sparks — Yea
Lois Kolkhorst — Yea
Mayes Middleton — Yea
Molly Cook — Nay
Nathan Johnson — Nay
Paul Bettencourt — Yea
Pete Flores — Yea
Phil King — Yea
Robert Nichols — Yea
Roland Gutierrez — Nay
Royce West — Nay
Sarah Eckhardt — Nay
Tan Parker — Yea

Official roll call →

passage

Passed 18 Yea · 12 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 181200
Total 181200
% of votes cast 60%40%0%0%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Adam Hinojosa — Yea
Angela Paxton — Yea
Bob Hall — Nay
Borris Miles — Nay
Brandon Creighton — Yea
Brent Hagenbuch — Yea
Brian Birdwell — Yea
Bryan Hughes — Yea
Carol Alvarado — Nay
Charles Perry — Yea
Charles Schwertner — Yea
César Blanco — Nay
Donna Campbell — Yea
Joan Huffman — Yea
José Menéndez — Nay
Juan Hinojosa — Nay
Judith Zaffirini — Nay
Kevin Sparks — Yea
Lois Kolkhorst — Yea
Mayes Middleton — Yea
Molly Cook — Nay
Nathan Johnson — Nay
Paul Bettencourt — Yea
Pete Flores — Yea
Phil King — Yea
Robert Nichols — Yea
Roland Gutierrez — Nay
Royce West — Nay
Sarah Eckhardt — Nay
Tan Parker — Yea

Official roll call →

other

Failed 11 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 111900
Total 111900
% of votes cast 37%63%0%0%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Adam Hinojosa — Nay
Angela Paxton — Nay
Bob Hall — Nay
Borris Miles — Yea
Brandon Creighton — Nay
Brent Hagenbuch — Nay
Brian Birdwell — Nay
Bryan Hughes — Nay
Carol Alvarado — Yea
Charles Perry — Nay
Charles Schwertner — Nay
César Blanco — Yea
Donna Campbell — Nay
Joan Huffman — Nay
José Menéndez — Yea
Juan Hinojosa — Yea
Judith Zaffirini — Yea
Kevin Sparks — Nay
Lois Kolkhorst — Nay
Mayes Middleton — Nay
Molly Cook — Yea
Nathan Johnson — Yea
Paul Bettencourt — Nay
Pete Flores — Nay
Phil King — Nay
Robert Nichols — Nay
Roland Gutierrez — Yea
Royce West — Yea
Sarah Eckhardt — Yea
Tan Parker — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 15?
SB 15 is sponsored by Cole Hefner, Kevin Sparks, Tan Parker, Joan Huffman, Charles Schwertner, Charles Perry, Angela Paxton, Lois Kolkhorst, Adam Hinojosa, Brent Hagenbuch, Paul Bettencourt, Phil King, Pete Flores, and Brandon Creighton.
What is the current status of SB 15?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced August 15, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 15?
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