TO:	Honorable Chris Turner, Chair, House Committee on Business & Industry
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3903 by Wu (Relating to the confidentiality of eviction case information.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Property Code to direct a court to enter an order making eviction case information pertaining to a defendant confidential under certain circumstances. The bill would also permit the court to enter a confidentiality order if the court finds it is in the interest of justice and the interest of justice is not outweighed by the public's interest in knowing the eviction case information. 

If the court enters a confidentiality order, the bill would prevent courts and clerks from intentionally disclosing the eviction case information except in certain circumstances.

The bill would make a person liable for a violation of the disclosure restrictions to an injured party for damages and reasonable attorney's fees. The bill would direct a court to award certain exemplary damages to the injured party irrespective of whether actual damages are awarded.

The bill would requires the Texas Supreme Court to adopt rules necessary to implement the new section by January 1, 2022.

Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated as a result from implementing the provisions of the bill.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.