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Bill

HB 3477

Relating to the expunction of all records and files related to a finding of criminal contempt by a court.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Terry Canales and 4 co-sponsors

Texas bill allows expungement of all criminal contempt records, potentially removing conviction documentation from public access and background checks while enabling conviction erasure.

Received from the House
#criminalprocedure--general(i0208) #expunctionofrecords(s0189)
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Bill Summary · HB 3477

Legislative bill overview

HB 3477 allows individuals to have all records and files related to criminal contempt findings expunged from court records. The bill streamlines the process for removing these records from the judicial system, making them inaccessible to the public and most background checks.

Why is this important

Criminal contempt convictions can significantly impact employment, housing, and professional licensing opportunities. Expunction provisions allow people to move forward after conviction without the permanent stigma of a public record, potentially reducing recidivism and enabling reintegration into society.

Potential points of contention

  • Victim protection concerns: Criminal contempt often involves violations of protective orders or court-ordered contact restrictions; expunction could limit access to information that protects victims
  • Public record transparency: Complete expunction eliminates public accountability and awareness of individuals with patterns of court defiance or violations
  • Judicial discretion: The bill's scope regarding whether judges retain discretion to deny expunction in specific cases (such as repeated contempt) is unclear from the summary

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

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