bill shielding more license holder details from records requests

The text as introduced · 276 words

By: Longoria
H.B. No. 5249

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the confidentiality of certain information maintained

by state licensing agencies

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

SECTION 1. Section, 552.11765(b), (c), and (e), Government

Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d),

information maintained by a governmental body described by Section

552.003(1)(A)(i) is confidential and excepted from the

requirements of Section 552.021 if the information:

(1) is a license application; or

(2) is a [ relates to the ] home address, home telephone

number, personal electronic mail address, social security number,

date of birth, driver's license number, state identification

number, passport number, emergency contact information, or

[ payment ] information made confidential under Section 552.136 of:

(A) an applicant for a license issued by the

governmental body;

(B) an individual who holds a license issued by

the governmental body; or

(C) an individual who previously held a license

issued by the governmental body.

(c) Subsection (b) does not make confidential or except from

required public disclosure the name, license number, [ or ] license

status , business address, business telephone number, or business

electronic mail address of an applicant for a license, a license

holder, or an individual who previously held a license.

(e) A licensing authority may withhold information made

confidential by subsection (b) without requesting a decision from

the attorney general. [ To the extent of any conflict, this section

prevails over another law that authorizes or requires the release

of information maintained by a governmental body. ]

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