SB 765: Kolkhorst Bill Closes Any Record That ‘Relates To Fraud Detection’

Caption

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

Summary

Reports, data, manuals, communications, all confidential without a case-by-case ruling. Audits can get swept in.

The bill adds a new exception to the Texas Public Information Act that makes any government record relating to fraud detection and deterrence confidential. It covers every governmental body and every Texan who files a records request, and the shielded material is listed broadly to include risk assessments, reports, data, manuals, investigative materials, crossmatches and communications. Starting September 1, 2025, agencies can keep these records secret without a case-by-case ruling, so the public loses access to records on how fraud is caught and how fraud reviews are judged.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1219 (Did not pass). 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.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-SB765 · 2025-01-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

Reports, data, manuals, communications, all confidential without a case-by-case ruling. Audits can get swept in.

The bill adds a new exception to the Texas Public Information Act that makes any government record relating to fraud detection and deterrence confidential. It covers every governmental body and every Texan who files a records request, and the shielded material is listed broadly to include risk assessments, reports, data, manuals, investigative materials, crossmatches and communications. Starting September 1, 2025, agencies can keep these records secret without a case-by-case ruling, so the public loses access to records on how fraud is caught and how fraud reviews are judged.

CHARGES

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 50%

THE CAPTION

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

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

…“the custody of a governmental body that relates to fraud detection”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption pitches secrecy for fraud detection methods, but the text closes any record that merely relates to fraud measures. Its open-ended list of reports, data and communications that evaluate fraud can reach audits and performance records well beyond the methods themselves.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 4, 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

Jan 13, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Jan 13, 2025Filed
Feb 7, 2025Read first time
Feb 7, 2025Referred to Business & Commerce
Feb 27, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Feb 27, 2025Considered in public hearing
Feb 27, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 4, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 4, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 5, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Mar 5, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 5, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 10, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Apr 10, 2025Laid before the Senate
Apr 10, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 10, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 10, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 10, 2025Passed
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 14, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 17, 2025Read first time
Apr 17, 2025Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency
Apr 24, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 30, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 30, 2025Committee report distributed
May 1, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 5, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion HB 4952
May 5, 2025Read 2nd time
May 5, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 6, 2025Read 3rd time
May 6, 2025Passed
May 6, 2025Record vote RV#1495
May 6, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 6, 2025House passage reported
May 6, 2025Reported enrolled
May 7, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 7, 2025Signed in the House
May 7, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 19, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 19, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 134 yea · 12 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60K Border Health PAC$35K SRR Ranches, LLC$30K

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 11, 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$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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 · Nov 19, 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.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. 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: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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 · Nov 19, 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.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. 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: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes4

House May 6, 2025

Yea: 134
Nay: 12
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 2
Excused: 0

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1495

SB 765 was passed by (Record 1495): 134 Yeas, 12 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 134 (published)
Nay: 12 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

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

CSSB 765 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence information under the public information law. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 30
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

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

CSSB 765 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence information under the public information law. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

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

CSSB 765 (Kolkhorst) Relating to the confidentiality of fraud detection and deterrence information under the public information law. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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.

Witnesses9

For: 6
Against: 0
On: 3

Names

For

City of Houston1 registration
City of San Antonio1 registration
Clifford Sparks1 registration
Lower Colorado River Authority1 registration
Self1 registration
Texas Association of School Boards1 registration

On

HHSC Office of Inspector General1 registration
Self1 registration
Texas Workforce Commission1 registration

Sources

9 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 4, 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 I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 1219

by Sen. Kolkhorst, same lead author · Did not pass · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 23, 2023: Placed on General State Calendar

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

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 13, 2025

05/19/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 2:05 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

HB 4952 by Landgraf (identical)

Subjects

Open Records

FRAUD

Text

The text as introduced · 147 words

89R3541 MCK-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 765

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.

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

House May 6, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

For

On

88R SB 1219

Companion