By: Blanco S.B. No. 1525

(In the Senate - Filed March 3, 2023; March 16, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce; April 26, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0; April 26, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in property tax appraisal records.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to:

(1) a current or former peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the spouse or surviving spouse of the peace officer;

(2) the adult child of a current peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure;

(3) a current or honorably retired county jailer as defined by Section 1701.001, Occupations Code;

(4) an employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;

(5) a commissioned security officer as defined by Section 1702.002, Occupations Code;

(6) an individual who shows that the individual, the individual's child, or another person in the individual's household is a victim of family violence as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, by providing:

(A) a copy of a protective order issued under Chapter 85, Family Code, or a magistrate's order for emergency protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(B) other independent documentary evidence necessary to show that the individual, the individual's child, or another person in the individual's household is a victim of family violence;

(7) an individual who shows that the individual, the individual's child, or another person in the individual's household is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons by providing:

(A) a copy of a protective order issued under Subchapter A or B, Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, or a magistrate's order for emergency protection issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(B) other independent documentary evidence necessary to show that the individual, the individual's child, or another person in the individual's household is a victim of sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons;

(8) a participant in the address confidentiality program administered by the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure, who provides proof of certification under Article 58.059, Code of Criminal Procedure;

(9) a federal judge, a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, a state judge, or a family member of a federal judge, a federal bankruptcy judge, a marshal of the United States Marshals Service, or a state judge;

(10) a current or former district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county or municipal attorney whose jurisdiction includes any criminal law or child protective services matters;

(11) a current or former employee of a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county or municipal attorney whose jurisdiction includes any criminal law or child protective services matters;

(12) an officer or employee of a community supervision and corrections department established under Chapter 76, Government Code, who performs a duty described by Section 76.004(b) of that code;

(13) a criminal investigator of the United States as described by Article 2.122(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;

(14) a current or honorably retired police officer or inspector of the United States Federal Protective Service;

(15) a current or former United States attorney, assistant United States attorney, federal public defender, deputy federal public defender, or assistant federal public defender and the spouse and child of the attorney or public defender;

(16) a current or former employee of the office of the attorney general who is or was assigned to a division of that office the duties of which involve law enforcement;

(17) a medical examiner or person who performs forensic analysis or testing who is employed by this state or one or more political subdivisions of this state;

(18) a current or former member of the United States armed forces who has served in an area that the president of the United States by executive order designates for purposes of 26 U.S.C. Section 112 as an area in which armed forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat;

(19) a current or former employee of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or of the predecessors in function of the department;

(20) a current or former juvenile probation or supervision officer certified by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, or the predecessors in function of the department, under Title 12, Human Resources Code;

(21) a current or former employee of a juvenile justice program or facility, as those terms are defined by Section 261.405, Family Code;

(22) a current or former employee of the Texas Civil Commitment Office or the predecessor in function of the office or a division of the office;

(23) a current or former employee of a federal judge or state judge;

(24) a current or former child protective services caseworker, adult protective services caseworker, or investigator for the Department of Family and Protective Services or a current or former employee of a department contractor performing child protective services caseworker, adult protective services caseworker, or investigator functions for the contractor on behalf of the department;

(25) an elected public officer; [and]

(26) a firefighter or volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code; and

(27) a current or former attorney for the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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