Monitoring the Session

HB 4160

bill shielding special ed classroom video from agency hearing subpoenas

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ron ReynoldsDHouse 27

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the release of certain video surveillance of special education settings.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The one exception: when the camera law already allows release.

The bill says video recordings of students made in special education classrooms under the state's classroom camera law cannot be pulled out by a subpoena issued in a state agency hearing. The only exception is when the camera law itself already allows the video to be released. This affects school districts, parents, teachers and parties in state administrative hearings who might otherwise subpoena the footage, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 102 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 102 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 10, 2025 and referred to the House Public Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4160 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Ron ReynoldsDHouse 27

ITEM

relating to the release of certain video surveillance of special education settings.

WHAT IT DOES

The one exception: when the camera law already allows release.

The bill says video recordings of students made in special education classrooms under the state's classroom camera law cannot be pulled out by a subpoena issued in a state agency hearing. The only exception is when the camera law itself already allows the video to be released. This affects school districts, parents, teachers and parties in state administrative hearings who might otherwise subpoena the footage, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Public Education
FILED UNDER

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“A video recording of a student made according to this section is not subject to a subpoena issued under Section 2001.089, Government Code, to compel its production”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill limits who can force release of classroom surveillance video of special education students, keeping access inside the camera law's own release rules.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ron Reynolds

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$30KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25KTexas House Democratic Campaign Committee$7K

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 29, 2024 to Oct 19, 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.

Texas Sands PAC$30,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 5, 2024 to Feb 19, 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: 100982635, 101040208.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$25,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 27, 2024 to Jan 16, 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: 100982635, 101028685, 101035822.

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee$7,000.00

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

$7,000.00

Cash
$7,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$7,000.00

Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Apr 30, 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: 101057584.

Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 5, 2024 to Feb 19, 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: 100982635, 101040208.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 27, 2024 to Jan 16, 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: 100982635, 101028685, 101035822.

×

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

$7,000.00

Cash
$7,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$7,000.00

Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Apr 30, 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: 101057584.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

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

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 10, 2025

03/31/2025 H Referred to Public Education: Mar 31 2025 4:34PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Public Education · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Charter Schools

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

Education--Primary & Secondary--Special

Family--Child Protection

Minors--Health & Safety

SUBPOENAS

VIDEOTAPE & FILM

Text

The text as introduced · 102 words

89R16488 RDR-D

By: Reynolds
H.B. No. 4160

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the release of certain video surveillance of special

education settings.

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

SECTION 1. Section 29.022, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (i-2) to read as follows:

(i-2) A video recording of a student made according to this

section is not subject to a subpoena issued under Section 2001.089,

Government Code, to compel its production unless the release of the

video recording is authorized under this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.