HB 5081 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the protection of personal identifying information of certain individuals in the judicial system; creating a criminal offense.

HB 5081 creates criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure of specific personal information belonging to judges, court clerks, and judicial employees in Texas. The bill defines "covered information" to include home addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, school/daycare attendance details, and vehicle identifiers - excluding public property listings or standard employment data. It establishes Chapter 92 in the Government Code, making it a criminal offense to share this information without authorization. The law directly affects judicial branch staff and their families by protecting sensitive personal data from misuse. The bill became effective on September 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Apr 7, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 7 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill establishes new protections for personal identifying information of judges, court clerks, and judicial employees by prohibiting data brokers from selling or publicly displaying their information without consent. The law creates both civil and criminal penalties for violations and requires data brokers to remove covered information within 10 business days after receiving a removal request.
Scope change
The bill adds a new chapter (Chapter 92) to the Texas Government Code specifically protecting judicial personnel's personal information from data brokers and public posting.
DEFINITION

New definitions for 'at-risk individual' (judges, court clerks, judicial employees) and 'covered information' (addresses, phone numbers, financial data, employment info, photos, etc.)

REQUIREMENT

Prohibits data brokers from selling, licensing, or transferring covered information of at-risk individuals without consent, and prohibits public posting of such information on websites

Requires data brokers to remove covered information within 10 business days after receiving a written removal request

ENFORCEMENT

Creates civil remedies allowing at-risk individuals to seek injunctive relief and fines up to $500 per day for violations, plus exemplary damages and attorney fees

Establishes criminal offenses for intentionally posting covered information without consent or failing to remove information within 10 business days, punishable as Class B or Class A misdemeanors

TIMELINE

Bill takes effect September 1, 2025, with certain provisions applying to information posted on or after that date

FISCAL

Office of Court Administration procedures for filing removal requests on behalf of judges require specific legislative appropriation to implement

Floor votes · House May 14, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
58
Key actions
17
Committee
11
Amendments
8
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
upper
May 28, 2025
Introduced
Text of Senate Amendment(s)
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
lower
May 27, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
lower
May 27, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments distributed
lower
May 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage as amended reported
lower
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
May 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
May 15, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
No action taken in committee
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors