BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2413

By: Garcia Hernandez, Cassandra

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes counties to dispose of surplus or salvage property, including media devices, through competitive bidding or public auction. However, the bill author has informed the committee that even with advanced data-wiping methods, residual data may still be recoverable, posing risks such as identity theft, legal consequences, and privacy violations. H.B. 2413 seeks to ensure data security and proper disposal of media devices by authorizing a county commissioners court to order the destruction of certain sensitive media devices to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of certain information.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2413 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county to order the destruction of a sensitive media device that is salvage or surplus property and for which the commissioners court determines that the destruction is necessary to prevent inadvertent disclosure of information in connection with the disposal of the device. The bill defines "sensitive media device" as a data storage device that the commissioners court of a county determines the county has used to store data the maintenance or disclosure of which is regulated by state or federal law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.