SB 1223
Hughes’s Biometric Ban Waves Through Anything Another Law Allows
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
The hole
THE TEXT
…“collection of the information is authorized by another provision of”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The ban only reaches collection that no other law authorizes. Any fingerprinting already allowed by another statute passes straight through, so the headline prohibition may stop little that is happening under existing law.
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 collection by a state agency of biometric information from an applicant for an occupational license.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Agencies can’t fingerprint license applicants. Except where another law already lets them.
The bill bars Texas state agencies from collecting biometric information, including fingerprints, from people applying for an occupational license. The ban does not apply when another law already authorizes the collection. It takes effect September 1, 2025, so agencies could no longer take fingerprints or similar data from license applicants unless some other statute allows it.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 112 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 112 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 Feb 11, 2025 and referred to the Senate Business & Commerce committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1223 · 2025-02-11
SOLD BY
+ 1 coauthor
ITEM
relating to a prohibition on the collection by a state agency of biometric information from an applicant for an occupational license.
WHAT IT DOES
Agencies can’t fingerprint license applicants. Except where another law already lets them.
The bill bars Texas state agencies from collecting biometric information, including fingerprints, from people applying for an occupational license. The ban does not apply when another law already authorizes the collection. It takes effect September 1, 2025, so agencies could no longer take fingerprints or similar data from license applicants unless some other statute allows it.
CHARGES
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
…“collection of the information is authorized by another provision of”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The ban only reaches collection that no other law authorizes. Any fingerprinting already allowed by another statute passes straight through, so the headline prohibition may stop little that is happening under existing law.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Business & Commerce
- Co-author authorized
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“PROHIBITED. A state agency may not collect biometric information,”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill limits state agencies from gathering fingerprints and other biometric data from license applicants, but leaves collection that other laws already authorize in place.
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 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.
GOPAC Election Fund$250,000.00
GOPAC Election Fund
$250,000.00
- Cash
- $250,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $250,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to 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 · Jul 17, 2025 to 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: 101028838, 101071548.
CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100,000.00
CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.
Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100,000.00
Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on 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: 101071548.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
GOPAC Election Fund
$250,000.00
- Cash
- $250,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $250,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to 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 · Jul 17, 2025 to 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: 101028838, 101071548.
CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.
Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC
$100,000.00
- Cash
- $100,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $100,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on 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: 101071548.
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 Senate · Filed Feb 11, 2025
02/28/2025 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Occupational Regulation--Health Occupations
Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions
State Agencies, Boards & Commissions
BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIERS & VOICEPRINTS
Text
The text as introduced · 112 words
89R9348 GP-D By: Hughes S.B. No. 1223 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a prohibition on the collection by a state agency of biometric information from an applicant for an occupational license. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 57, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. COLLECTION OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION Sec. 57.151. COLLECTION OF BIOMETRIC INFORMATION PROHIBITED. A state agency may not collect biometric information, including fingerprints, from an applicant for a license unless collection of the information is authorized by another provision of law. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.