Monitoring the Session

HB 2507

Leach Nondisclosure Bill’s Automatic Sealing Waits Until 2028

Did not pass

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Jeff LeachRHouse 67
Why it's charged
Delayed start

THE TEXT

“SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2028.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The automatic nondisclosure system does not start until January 1, 2028. That is more than two years after the session and after the November 3, 2026 election.

Delayed start

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to automatic orders of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain misdemeanor defendants following successful completion of a period of deferred adjudication community supervision.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Ends the $28 fee. The monthly DPS scan covers only people discharged from 2028 on.

The bill makes certain people who finish deferred adjudication for a nonviolent misdemeanor entitled to an order that seals their record from the public, and it ends the $28 fee for that order. Each month the Department of Public Safety must scan its records, find eligible people, and notify the court, which must then issue the order within 15 business days; people with older cases can ask the department to check their eligibility or go straight to the court. Nothing changes until January 1, 2028, and the monthly automatic scan only covers people discharged on or after that date.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1737 (Died in committee) and this bill (Did not pass). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1737 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 16, 2025. Died in the Senate: received, never referred to a committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2507 · 2025-02-05

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to automatic orders of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain misdemeanor defendants following successful completion of a period of deferred adjudication community supervision.

WHAT IT DOES

Ends the $28 fee. The monthly DPS scan covers only people discharged from 2028 on.

The bill makes certain people who finish deferred adjudication for a nonviolent misdemeanor entitled to an order that seals their record from the public, and it ends the $28 fee for that order. Each month the Department of Public Safety must scan its records, find eligible people, and notify the court, which must then issue the order within 15 business days; people with older cases can ask the department to check their eligibility or go straight to the court. Nothing changes until January 1, 2028, and the monthly automatic scan only covers people discharged on or after that date.

CHARGES

[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 85%

THE TEXT

“SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2028.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The automatic nondisclosure system does not start until January 1, 2028. That is more than two years after the session and after the November 3, 2026 election.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Considered in formal meeting
  13. Committee substitute considered in committee
  14. Vote reconsidered in committee
  15. Reported favorably as substituted
  16. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  17. Committee report distributed
  18. Committee report sent to Calendars
  19. Considered in Calendars
  20. Placed on General State Calendar
  21. Read 2nd time
  22. Passed to engrossment
  23. Record vote RV#2754
  24. Read 3rd time
  25. Passed
  26. Record vote RV#2864
  27. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  28. Reported engrossed
  29. Received from the House
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 119 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1,141,482.69

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,141,482.69

Cash
$555,000.00
Paid by others
$586,482.69
Total
$1,141,482.69
digital $316,766.74mail $154,662.95advertising $89,953.00polling $25,100.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101004498, 101024562, 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273,017.05

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,017.05

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$238,017.05
Total
$273,017.05
canvassing $150,000.00digital $70,627.07Other filed descriptions $16,666.67texting $723.31

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

Republican Party of Texas$182,117.94

Republican Party of Texas

$182,117.94

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$182,117.94
Total
$182,117.94
mail $182,117.94

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101072948.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,141,482.69

Cash
$555,000.00
Paid by others
$586,482.69
Total
$1,141,482.69
digital $316,766.74mail $154,662.95advertising $89,953.00polling $25,100.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101004498, 101024562, 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,017.05

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$238,017.05
Total
$273,017.05
canvassing $150,000.00digital $70,627.07Other filed descriptions $16,666.67texting $723.31

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 9, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101039760, 101044787, 101067510, 101072948.

×

Republican Party of Texas

$182,117.94

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$182,117.94
Total
$182,117.94
mail $182,117.94

Also funds 12 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101072948.

Votes2

House May 16, 2025

Yea
119
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
25
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2864

HB 2507 was passed by (Record 2864): 119 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 119 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 25 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 15, 2025

Yea
140
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2754

CSHB 2507 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2754): 140 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 140 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses23
For
22
Against
1
On
0
Names

For

  • Alliance for Safety and Justice; and Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice1 registration
  • American Civil Liberties Union of Texas1 registration
  • Caritas of Austin1 registration
  • Dallas Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot1 registration
  • Dallas Regional Chamber1 registration
  • Greater Houston Partnership1 registration
  • JPMorganChase1 registration
  • Prison Fellowship Ministries1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Self; Doug Deason1 registration
  • Self; Equity Action1 registration
  • Self; TX C.U.R.E., Inc.1 registration
  • Texas 20361 registration
  • Texas Access to Justice Commission1 registration
  • Texas Appleseed1 registration
  • Texas Association of Goodwills1 registration
  • Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration
  • The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration
  • United Ways of Texas1 registration

Against

  • Phil Sorrells - Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney1 registration
Sources

23 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 1737

by Rep. Leach, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 18, 2023: Left pending in committee

Relating to automatic orders of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain misdemeanor defendants following successful completion of a period of deferred adjudication community supervision.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 5, 2025

05/19/2025 S Received from the House

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:43 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Criminal Jurisprudence · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 814 by Zaffirini (identical)

Subjects

Corrections--Parole, Probation & Pardons

Criminal Procedure--Posttrial Procedure

Electronic Information Systems

CRIMINAL RECORDS

DEFERRED ADJUDICATION

MANDATORY & COMMUNITY SUPERVISION

PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 1,522 words

89R6188 JRR-D

By: Leach
H.B. No. 2507

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to automatic orders of nondisclosure of criminal history

record information for certain misdemeanor defendants following

successful completion of a period of deferred adjudication

community supervision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 66.102(e), Code of Criminal Procedure,

is amended to read as follows:

(e) Information in the computerized criminal history system

relating to the disposition of a case other than a rejected case

must include:

(1) the final pleading to each charged offense and the

level of the offense;

(2) a listing of each charged offense disposed of by

the court and:

(A) the date of disposition;

(B) the offense code for the disposed charge and

incident number; and

(C) the type of disposition; [ and ]

(3) for a case in which the judge placed the defendant

on deferred adjudication community supervision, whether an

affirmative finding under Article 42A.105(f) or former Section

5(k), Article 42.12, was filed in the papers of the case; and

(4) for a conviction that is appealed, the final court

decision and the final disposition of the offender's case on

appeal.

SECTION 2. Section 411.0716, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.0716. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. [ (a) ] Except

as provided by Section 411.072 [ Subsection (b) ], this subchapter

applies to the issuance of an order of nondisclosure of criminal

history record information for an offense committed before, on, or

after September 1, 2017.

[ (b) Section 411.072 applies only to a person described by

Subsection (a) of that section who receives a discharge and

dismissal under Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal Procedure, on or

after September 1, 2017. ]

SECTION 3. Section 411.072, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.072. AUTOMATIC ORDER OF NONDISCLOSURE FOLLOWING

COMPLETION OF [ PROCEDURE FOR ] DEFERRED ADJUDICATION COMMUNITY

SUPERVISION; CERTAIN NONVIOLENT MISDEMEANORS. (a) A person is

entitled to an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record

information under this [ This ] section if [ applies only to a person

who ]:

(1) the person was placed on deferred adjudication

community supervision under Subchapter C, Chapter 42A, Code of

Criminal Procedure, for a misdemeanor other than a misdemeanor:

(A) under:

(i) Section 49.04 or 49.06, Penal Code; or

(ii) Chapter 20, 21, 22, 25, 42, 43, 46, or

71, Penal Code; or

(B) with respect to which an affirmative finding

under Article 42A.105(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, or former

Section 5(k), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, was filed

in the papers of the case; [ and ]

(2) the person received a dismissal and discharge

under Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal Procedure, on or after

January 1, 1993, for the offense described by Subdivision (1);

(3) at least 180 days have elapsed from the date the

person was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision

for the offense described by Subdivision (1);

(4) the person satisfies the requirements of Section

411.074;

(5) the person has never been previously convicted of

or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for

another offense other than a traffic offense that is punishable by

fine only ; and

(6) the person has not received an order of

nondisclosure of criminal history record information under this

section .

(b) Not later than the 15th day of each month, the

department shall:

(1) electronically review the records in the

department's computerized criminal history system and, based on the

relevant information present in the system, identify each person

who satisfies the requirements of Subsection (a) and received the

dismissal and discharge described by Subsection (a)(2) on or after

January 1, 2028; and

(2) provide notice and a list to the clerk of the

applicable court that placed each person identified under

Subdivision (1) on deferred adjudication community supervision

indicating that each person may be entitled to an order of

nondisclosure of criminal history record information under this

section.

(c) For purposes of electronically identifying persons

under Subsection (b)(1), if the computerized criminal history

system records do not indicate whether a person received a

dismissal and discharge, the person is considered to satisfy the

requirements of Subsection (a)(2) if:

(1) the applicable records do not contain an order

revoking the person's deferred adjudication community supervision;

and

(2) the date on which the period of deferred

adjudication community supervision imposed in the person's case

expires has elapsed.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter

or Subchapter F, if a [ person described by Subsection (a) receives a

discharge and dismissal under Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal

Procedure, and satisfies the requirements of Section 411.074, the ]

court that placed a [ the ] person on deferred adjudication community

supervision receives notice from the department under Subsection

(b) or (e) applicable to the person, the court shall , not later than

the 15th business day after the receipt of the notice, issue an

order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information under

this subchapter prohibiting criminal justice agencies from

disclosing to the public criminal history record information

related to the offense giving rise to the deferred adjudication

community supervision. [ The court shall determine whether the

person satisfies the requirements of Section 411.074, and if the

court makes a finding that the requirements of that section are

satisfied, the court shall issue the order of nondisclosure of

criminal history record information:

[ (1) at the time the court discharges and dismisses

the proceedings against the person, if the discharge and dismissal

occurs on or after the 180th day after the date the court placed the

person on deferred adjudication community supervision; or

[ (2) as soon as practicable on or after the 180th day

after the date the court placed the person on deferred adjudication

community supervision, if the discharge and dismissal occurred

before that date. ]

(e) A person who received a dismissal and discharge under

Article 42A.111, Code of Criminal Procedure, on or after January 1,

1993, may make a request to the department for a determination as to

whether the person satisfies the requirements of Subsection (a).

The department shall make a determination requested under this

subsection based on the relevant information present in the

computerized criminal history system and notify the person of the

result of that determination. If the department determines the

person satisfies the requirements of Subsection (a), the department

shall electronically notify the clerk of the court that placed the

person on deferred adjudication community supervision that

[ (c) The person shall present to the court any evidence necessary

to establish that ] the person is entitled to [ eligible to receive ]

an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information

under this section. The department shall prescribe and make

publicly available on the department's Internet website the manner

in which a person may request a determination under this

subsection.

(f) In addition to the procedures provided by Subsections

(b) and (e), a person may present to the court that placed the

person on deferred adjudication community supervision any evidence

necessary to establish that the person is entitled to an order of

nondisclosure of criminal history record information under this

section. The court shall prescribe the manner in which the person

may present the evidence to the court under this subsection. The

court shall determine whether the person satisfies the requirements

of Subsection (a), and if the court makes a finding that the

requirements of that subsection are satisfied, the court shall

issue an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record

information under this subchapter prohibiting criminal justice

agencies from disclosing to the public criminal history record

information related to the offense giving rise to the deferred

adjudication community supervision.

(g) Notwithstanding any other law, a [ The ] person who is

entitled to an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record

information under this section may not be required to [ must ] pay any

[ a $28 ] fee relating to the issuance of [ to the clerk of the court

before the court issues ] the order.

(h) [ (d) ] A person who is not entitled [ eligible ] to receive

an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information

under this section solely because an affirmative finding under

Article 42A.105(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, or former Section

5(k), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, was filed in the

papers of the case may file a petition for an order of nondisclosure

of criminal history record information under Section 411.0725 if

the person otherwise satisfies the requirements of that section.

SECTION 4. Section 411.0725(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to a person placed on deferred

adjudication community supervision under Subchapter C, Chapter

42A, Code of Criminal Procedure, who:

(1) is not entitled [ eligible ] to receive an order of

nondisclosure of criminal history record information under Section

411.072; and

(2) was placed on deferred adjudication community

supervision for an offense other than an offense under Section

49.04 or 49.06, Penal Code.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2028.