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Bill

SB 814

Relating to automatic orders of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain misdemeanor defendants following successful completion of a period of deferred adjudication community supervision.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Charles Perry and 1 co-sponsor

Texas bill automatically seals misdemeanor records upon successful deferred adjudication completion, eliminating court petition requirements and improving employment prospects for rehabilitated defendants.

Co-author authorized
#criminalrecords(s0008) #corrections--parole #probation&pardons(i0093) #criminalprocedure--posttrialprocedure(i0206) #deferredadjudication(s6185) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #mandatory&communitysupervision(s2314) #publicsafety #departmentof(v0251)
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Bill Summary · SB 814

Legislative bill overview

SB 814 would automatically seal criminal history records for defendants who successfully complete deferred adjudication community supervision on certain misdemeanor charges in Texas, without requiring them to petition the court. This streamlines the record-sealing process by making nondisclosure orders automatic rather than discretionary.

Why is this important

Automatic record sealing removes barriers to employment, housing, and professional licensing for individuals who have successfully rehabilitated themselves through deferred adjudication. The change reduces administrative burden on courts while potentially improving reentry outcomes for thousands of people annually who complete their supervision requirements.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope definition: Uncertainty about which specific misdemeanor offenses qualify for automatic sealing could create implementation challenges and inconsistent application across counties
  • Public safety concerns: Law enforcement and victim advocacy groups may argue that automatic sealing limits access to criminal history information needed for background checks and community safety assessments
  • Judicial discretion: Removing judges' ability to deny nondisclosure orders in individual cases could be viewed as either beneficial (preventing arbitrary denials) or problematic (eliminating case-by-case consideration of circumstances)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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