Relating to the disclosure under the public information law of a motor vehicle license plate number captured in a video recording obtained or maintained by a law enforcement agency.
Summary
HB 1893 amends Texas public information and motor vehicle records law to make clear that a motor vehicle license plate number captured in a video recording obtained or maintained by a law enforcement agency is not confidential solely because it appears in that recording. The bill authorizes a law enforcement agency to release such video in response to a public information request without first redacting license plate numbers.
The measure adds a new subsection to Section 552.130 of the Government Code and a corresponding subsection to Section 730.007 of the Transportation Code. It preserves a law enforcement agency’s ability to withhold information under other exceptions in the Public Information Act, but removes any requirement to treat license plate numbers in released video as confidential or to blur them out before disclosure. The act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 1893 narrows the confidentiality treatment of license plate numbers when they appear in law-enforcement video records, affecting the Public Information Act and the Transportation Code’s motor vehicle record privacy provisions. It gives agencies explicit authority to release unredacted video containing plate numbers in response to public records requests, while leaving other disclosure exceptions intact. The practical effect is to reduce redaction burdens and increase public access to certain police video records.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial overall. It passed the House overwhelmingly, 146-0, and the Senate by a comfortable margin, 26-5, indicating strong bipartisan agreement that the disclosure rule should be clarified. The available record shows no committee transcript debate, suggesting limited publicized opposition or extensive floor controversy.
Contention
The main point of contention, reflected in the Senate’s five no votes, is likely the privacy and disclosure balance: whether license plate numbers in police video should remain protected as part of motor vehicle record information or be released as part of public records. Supporters appear to favor transparency and administrative efficiency for law enforcement agencies, while opponents may be concerned about privacy, surveillance, or the broader release of identifying vehicle information. The bill addresses this by allowing release of the video without mandatory redaction, but it does not eliminate other confidentiality exceptions that agencies may still invoke.
Relating to disclosure under the public information law of certain contact information of a notary public that is maintained by the secretary of state.
Establishes motor vehicle insurance compliance programs; allows law enforcement agencies to utilize license plate readers to enforce motor vehicle insurance requirements.
Local government; provide exemption from disclosing audio and video recordings captured by law enforcement when such recordings depict a person's death
Relating to disclosure under the public information law of certain contact information of a notary public that is maintained by the secretary of state.