WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 996

Relating to the eligibility of criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain offenses committed when younger than 25 years of age.

89th Legislature (2025)

HB 996 expands criminal record sealing eligibility to defendants under 25 for certain offenses, balancing rehabilitation opportunities against public access to criminal history information.

Referred to Corrections
#criminalrecords(s0008) #criminalprocedure--general(i0208)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 996

Legislative bill overview

HB 996 would expand eligibility for nondisclosure orders (sealing of criminal records) to include defendants who committed certain offenses before age 25. Currently, Texas law limits record sealing to specific offenses and circumstances. This bill would allow younger offenders to petition for records to be hidden from public view after meeting certain conditions, even for offenses not previously eligible for nondisclosure.

Why is this important

Criminal records significantly impact employment, housing, education, and lending opportunities. Expanding nondisclosure eligibility for young offenders could improve rehabilitation outcomes and reduce recidivism by removing barriers to reintegration. However, this also affects public access to criminal history information and victim/community awareness of offenders in their area.

Potential points of contention

  • Age threshold justification: Debate over whether 25 is the appropriate cutoff age and whether it's based on neuroscience/recidivism data or is arbitrary
  • Scope of eligible offenses: Which offenses qualify matters greatly—serious violent crimes versus non-violent offenses trigger different public safety concerns
  • Victim notification and rights: Whether victims retain access to sealed records or ability to challenge nondisclosure requests
  • Public safety vs. rehabilitation: Tension between community's right to know criminal history and offenders' opportunity for fresh starts
  • Implementation burden: Administrative costs and compliance mechanisms for courts and law enforcement

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

Sign in to ask a question.