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Bill

SB 1659

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

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Bryan Hughes

Texas bill requiring law enforcement to obtain warrants before purchasing location data from commercial data brokers, closing a privacy loophole in fourth amendment protections.

Left pending in committee
#aliens(i0032) #citygovernment--general(i0060) #countygovernment--general(i0096) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #lawenforcement(i0510) #occupationalregulation--othertrades&professions(i0541) #peaceofficers(s0007) #searchwarrants(s8366) #stateagencies #boards&commissions(i0749)
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Bill Summary · SB 1659

Legislative bill overview

SB 1659 would require Texas law enforcement and government agencies to obtain a warrant before purchasing or accessing location information about individuals from data brokers or electronic tracking services. The bill establishes Fourth Amendment-like protections for location data obtained through commercial channels rather than direct surveillance.

Why is this important

This addresses a significant privacy gap: law enforcement can currently circumvent warrant requirements by purchasing location data from private companies instead of obtaining it directly through traditional surveillance. As location tracking becomes increasingly commercialized, this bill determines whether citizens have constitutional protections against warrantless government access to their movement patterns.

Potential points of contention

  • Law enforcement concerns: Police argue purchasing commercial data is faster and cheaper than obtaining warrants, potentially hindering investigations and time-sensitive operations
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's definition of "location information" and "data broker" may be unclear—does it cover fitness apps, social media location tags, or only dedicated tracking services?
  • Practical enforcement: Difficult to monitor whether agencies comply, and unclear penalties or enforcement mechanisms if government entities violate the warrant requirement

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

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