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Bill

HB 4514

Relating to the use of the Department of Public Safety image verification system for the purpose of verifying an individual's identity; authorizing a fee.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Ryan Guillen

Authorizes Texas DPS to expand facial recognition system use for identity verification and charge fees, raising privacy and accuracy concerns.

Placed on General State Calendar
#electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #fees&othernontaxrevenue--state(i0362) #publicsafety #departmentof(v0251) #vehicles&traffic--driver'slicenses(i0840)
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Bill Summary · HB 4514

Legislative bill overview

HB 4514 authorizes the Texas Department of Public Safety to use its image verification system (facial recognition technology) for identity verification purposes beyond current applications, and permits the department to charge fees for this service. The bill expands the existing system's use cases while creating a new revenue stream for DPS.

Why is this important

Facial recognition technology is increasingly used in government operations, affecting millions of Texans who interact with DPS for driver's licenses, ID cards, and potentially other services. The fee structure could impact citizens' access to identity verification services, while the expanded use of biometric matching raises questions about data privacy, accuracy, and government surveillance scope.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Expansion of facial recognition use without explicit limits on how data is stored, shared, or used in investigations beyond identity verification
  • Accuracy and bias: Facial recognition systems have documented error rates that disproportionately affect people of color, potentially leading to misidentification
  • Fee structure and access: Unclear whether fees could create barriers to identity verification services for low-income Texans or other vulnerable populations
  • Scope creep: Authorization for "verifying identity" is broad and could be interpreted to permit uses beyond current legislative intent, including law enforcement applications

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

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