Monitoring the Session

HB 4952

Landgraf Bill Closes Any Record That Relates To Fraud Measures

Companion SB 765 became law

Verdict: Smells

SmellsNeeds review
Rep. Brooks LandgrafRHouse 81
Why it's charged
Dragnet

THE CAPTION

“relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence”…

Caption, House committee report version (H)

THE TEXT

…“investigative materials, crossmatches, mental impressions, and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The pitch is about hiding a fraud-detection playbook from bad actors. The text instead closes any record that merely relates to fraud measures, and its open-ended list reaches reports, data, investigative materials and internal communications well beyond detection methods.

Dragnet

Needs review · 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 the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence information under the public information law.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Reports, data, internal communications, even “mental impressions.” All of it can be withheld.

The bill adds a new exception to the Texas Public Information Act that makes any government record that relates to fraud detection and deterrence measures confidential. It covers every governmental body in Texas and anyone who files a public records request about how the government catches fraud. Starting September 1, 2025, risk assessments, reports, data, investigative materials, crossmatches and internal communications tied to fraud work can be withheld from the public.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 147 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 147 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).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4952 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Brooks LandgrafRHouse 81

ITEM

relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence information under the public information law.

WHAT IT DOES

Reports, data, internal communications, even “mental impressions.” All of it can be withheld.

The bill adds a new exception to the Texas Public Information Act that makes any government record that relates to fraud detection and deterrence measures confidential. It covers every governmental body in Texas and anyone who files a public records request about how the government catches fraud. Starting September 1, 2025, risk assessments, reports, data, investigative materials, crossmatches and internal communications tied to fraud work can be withheld from the public.

CHARGES

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 50%

THE CAPTION

“relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence”…

Caption, House committee report version (H)

THE TEXT

…“investigative materials, crossmatches, mental impressions, and”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The pitch is about hiding a fraud-detection playbook from bad actors. The text instead closes any record that merely relates to fraud measures, and its open-ended list reaches reports, data, investigative materials and internal communications well beyond detection methods.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 Delivery of Government Efficiency
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Companion considered in lieu of SB 765
  16. Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Brooks Landgraf

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$50KOvintiv USA Inc. PAC$19KDiamondback Energy PAC$15K

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 · Jul 2, 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$50,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$50,000.00

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 · Sep 26, 2024 to Sep 14, 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: 100977404, 101009994, 101033682, 101069723.

Ovintiv USA Inc. PAC$19,000.00

Ovintiv USA Inc. PAC

$19,000.00

Cash
$19,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$19,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Dec 22, 2025. 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: 100977404, 101033682.

Diamondback Energy PAC$15,000.00

Diamondback Energy PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 13, 2024 to Aug 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 13, 2024 to Aug 14, 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: 100977404, 101061488, 101069723.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$50,000.00

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 · Sep 26, 2024 to Sep 14, 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: 100977404, 101009994, 101033682, 101069723.

×

Ovintiv USA Inc. PAC

$19,000.00

Cash
$19,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$19,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Dec 22, 2025. 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: 100977404, 101033682.

×

Diamondback Energy PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 13, 2024 to Aug 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 13, 2024 to Aug 14, 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: 100977404, 101061488, 101069723.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses8
For
4
Against
2
On
2
Names

For

  • City of Houston1 registration
  • City of San Antonio1 registration
  • City of Sugar Land, Texas1 registration
  • Texas Association of School Boards1 registration

Against

  • Self; Equity Action1 registration
  • Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Workforce Commission1 registration
Sources

8 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025

05/05/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:59 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 10 aye, 1 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 765 by Kolkhorst (identical)

Subjects

Open Records

FRAUD

Text

The text as introduced · 147 words

89R3541 MCK-D

By: Landgraf
H.B. No. 4952

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence

information under the public information law.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 552.164 to read as follows:

Sec. 552.164. EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION

REGARDING FRAUD DETECTION AND DETERRENCE MEASURES. Information in

the custody of a governmental body that relates to fraud detection

and deterrence measures is confidential and excepted from the

requirements of Section 552.021. For purposes of this section,

fraud detection information includes risk assessments, reports,

data, protocols, technology specifications, manuals, instructions,

investigative materials, crossmatches, mental impressions, and

communications that may reveal the methods or means by which a

governmental body prevents, investigates, or evaluates fraud.

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