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 confidentiality of certain information for a
current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of
Administrative Hearings.
Home address, phone and family information can be withheld.
The bill adds current and former administrative law judges at the State Office of Administrative Hearings to the list of public workers whose home address, home phone, emergency contacts, Social Security number and family information can be withheld from public records requests. It also lets these judges ask appraisal districts to keep their home address information confidential in property tax records. The protection covers requests received on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 1431 (Vetoed) and this bill (Did not pass). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1431 (Vetoed). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Giovanni Capriglione (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 24, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Delivery of Government Efficiency committee 8-0, no floor vote.
relating to the confidentiality of certain information for a
current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of
Administrative Hearings.
WHAT IT DOES
Home address, phone and family information can be withheld.
The bill adds current and former administrative law judges at the State Office of Administrative Hearings to the list of public workers whose home address, home phone, emergency contacts, Social Security number and family information can be withheld from public records requests. It also lets these judges ask appraisal districts to keep their home address information confidential in property tax records. The protection covers requests received on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 438 (J. Hinojosa) Relating to the confidentiality of certain information for a current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of Administrative Hearings. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
SB 438 (J. Hinojosa) Relating to the confidentiality of certain information for a current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of Administrative Hearings. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
SB 438 (J. Hinojosa) Relating to the confidentiality of certain information for a current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of Administrative Hearings. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Witnesses3
For
1
Against
0
On
2
Names
For
Self1 registration
On
State Office of Administrative Hearings2 registrations
Sources
3 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
Relating to the confidentiality of certain information for a current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 5 absent · Out of committee
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Subjects
Courts--Judges
Open Records
Protection of Personal Information
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, STATE OFFICE OF
Text
The text as introduced · 316 words
89R711 MCK-F
By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo
S.B. No. 438
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the confidentiality of certain information for a
current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of
Administrative Hearings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 552.117, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) In addition to the exceptions provided by Subsection
(a), information is excepted from the requirements of Section
552.021 if it is information that:
(1) relates to the home address, home telephone
number, emergency contact information, or social security number of
a current or former administrative law judge for the State Office of
Administrative Hearings, regardless of whether the person complies
with Section 552.024 or 552.1175; or
(2) reveals whether a person described by Subdivision
(1) has family members.
SECTION 2. Section 552.1175, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) In addition to the individuals described by
Subsection (a), this section applies to a current or former
administrative law judge for the State Office of Administrative
Hearings.
SECTION 3. Section 25.025, Tax Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
(a-2) In addition to the individuals described by
Subsection (a), this section applies to a current or former
administrative law judge for the State Office of Administrative
Hearings.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a request for information that is received by a governmental body or
an officer on or after the effective date of this Act. A request for
information that was received before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law in effect on the date the request was
received, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
