SB 1659 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to requiring a warrant to search certain location information purchased by a governmental entity from a data broker or electronic personal data tracker.

SB 1659 requires government entities to obtain a warrant before searching location information they purchase from data brokers or electronic personal data trackers (like apps/websites that collect location data). This bill directly affects law enforcement and government agencies that buy such location data for investigations. It amends Texas law to explicitly include purchased location data under the list of items requiring a warrant, specifically adding it to Article 18.02(a)(15) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The key mechanism is changing the legal standard for accessing this type of data, moving from no warrant requirement to judicial approval. This policy change applies to all location data acquired by government entities from third-party sources, not data collected directly by the government.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Last action May 6, 2025
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bryan Hughes
Bryan Hughes
RRepublican
TX
1