Relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency regarding certain employees of the agency.
SB 15 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to create and maintain confidential "department files" for each employee who holds a license (such as a peace officer or security officer). These files must include documents about employee conduct - like unproven misconduct allegations - that aren't in regular personnel records, and must be kept separate from those files. Agencies can share these files with the licensing commission for hiring reviews or investigations, but otherwise the files are confidential and exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. The bill applies directly to all law enforcement agencies employing licensed personnel and takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
Bill status
passed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Aug 2025
House Passage
Aug 2025
Governor
Introduced Aug 15, 2025
Last action Aug 25, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
3 edits
·
Aug 19, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted and cleaned up to remove version control markers and page numbers from the original draft. The substantive policy content regarding law enforcement department files for license holders remains unchanged, though some spacing and formatting inconsistencies were corrected.
TECHNICAL
Removed version control headers, page numbers, and draft markers that were present in the original introduced version.
Corrected inconsistent spacing and formatting throughout the bill text to standardize the layout.
Added a new header line indicating this is the Engrossed version of SB 15 with updated digital accessibility content.
Floor votes · Senate Aug 18, 2025 · House Aug 25, 2025
How they voted
20–13
Passed
Total votes 33
Aug 18, 2025
D
Democratic12
91% Nay
R
Republican21
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
47
Key actions
13
Committee
10
Amendments
4
Aug 25, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (71-60-16)
house
Aug 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Aug 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Aug 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Aug 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Aug 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Aug 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Aug 18, 2025
Amended
Amendment fails of adoption
upper
Aug 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Aug 18, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Aug 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (20-13)
senate
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
11 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Adam Hinojosa
RRepublican
P
Angela Paxton
RRepublican
P
Brandon Creighton
RRepublican
P
Brent Hagenbuch
RRepublican
P
Charles Perry
RRepublican
P
Charles Schwertner
RRepublican
P
Cole Hefner
RRepublican
P
Lois Kolkhorst
RRepublican
P
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
P
Pete Flores
RRepublican
P
Phil King
RRepublican
Co
Joan Huffman
RRepublican
Co
Kevin Sparks
RRepublican
Co
Tan Parker
RRepublican
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