HB 5281
Hinojosa’s Federal Data Ban Exempts Any Law Or Program
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
The hole
The exception lets an agency share unredacted personal data whenever it is needed for any federal or state law or program. Ordinary agency sharing with federal officials usually runs through a law or program, so the advertised ban may reach little.
The holeInitial 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 a prohibition on the dissemination of certain personal identifying information by a state agency to the federal government.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Redact before sending. Or don’t, if a law or program needs it, or you consent.
The bill bars Texas state agencies, including public universities, from sending the federal government documents or data that contain a person's personal identifying information unless it has been redacted or anonymized. It has two exceptions: sharing that is necessary to comply with or carry out a federal or state law or program, and sharing the person has approved in writing. Agencies must keep any written consent on file, and the rule covers information shared on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5281 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to a prohibition on the dissemination of certain personal identifying information by a state agency to the federal government.
WHAT IT DOES
Redact before sending. Or don’t, if a law or program needs it, or you consent.
The bill bars Texas state agencies, including public universities, from sending the federal government documents or data that contain a person's personal identifying information unless it has been redacted or anonymized. It has two exceptions: sharing that is necessary to comply with or carry out a federal or state law or program, and sharing the person has approved in writing. Agencies must keep any written consent on file, and the rule covers information shared on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 60%
The exception lets an agency share unredacted personal data whenever it is needed for any federal or state law or program. Ordinary agency sharing with federal officials usually runs through a law or program, so the advertised ban may reach little.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
The bill limits state agencies from passing Texans' unredacted personal data to federal officials, but leaves a broad exception for law or program compliance.
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 · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
DSCC$1,485,555.60
DSCC
$1,485,555.60
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $1,485,555.60
- Total
- $1,485,555.60
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 2, 2026 to Oct 19, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 2, 2026 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.
Report IDs: 101073400.
DGA Action$1,000,000.00
DGA Action
$1,000,000.00
- Cash
- $1,000,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,000,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Oct 15, 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: 101073400.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
DSCC
$1,485,555.60
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $1,485,555.60
- Total
- $1,485,555.60
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 2, 2026 to Oct 19, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 2, 2026 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.
Report IDs: 101073400.
DGA Action
$1,000,000.00
- Cash
- $1,000,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,000,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Oct 15, 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: 101073400.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
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 · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Protection of Personal Information
State Agencies, Boards & Commissions
Text
The text as introduced · 335 words
89R16074 GP-D By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 5281 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a prohibition on the dissemination of certain personal identifying information by a state agency to the federal government. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 2062, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 2062. RESTRICTIONS ON STATE AGENCY USE AND DISSEMINATION OF CERTAIN PERSONAL [ INDIVIDUAL-IDENTIFYING ] INFORMATION SECTION 2. Section 2062.001, Government Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (2) and adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows: (2) "Personal identifying information" has the meaning assigned by Section 72.001, Business & Commerce Code. (3) "State agency" means a department, commission, board, office, council, authority, or other agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government, including a university system or institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, that is created by the constitution or a statute of this state. SECTION 3. Chapter 2062, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2062.003 to read as follows: Sec. 2062.003. DISSEMINATION OF CERTAIN PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a state agency may not disseminate to the federal government or a federal official any document or other data that includes the personal identifying information of a person that has not been redacted or otherwise anonymized. (b) A state agency may disseminate information described by Subsection (a) with respect to a person if the dissemination is: (1) necessary to comply with or implement a federal or state law or program; or (2) authorized in writing by the person. (c) A state agency shall retain the written consent of a person obtained under this section in the state agency's records. SECTION 4. Section 2062.003, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to information disseminated or retained by a state agency on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.