Relating to the eligibility of certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.
Summary
SB 958 expands eligibility for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. Under current law, a person must have been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication for specified low-level offenses and must have either assisted law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the trafficking-related offense, or been unable to do so because of age or a physical or mental disability caused by the victimization. The bill revises the list of qualifying offenses to include certain misdemeanors under the controlled substances, theft, criminal mischief, tampering, and prostitution-related provisions, and it updates the cross-references in Government Code Section 411.0728 accordingly.
The practical effect is to broaden access to nondisclosure relief for survivors whose criminal records stem from conduct connected to trafficking or compelling prostitution. A nondisclosure order limits public access to criminal history record information, which can reduce barriers to employment, housing, education, and other opportunities. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and amends Texas Government Code provisions governing nondisclosure eligibility for this specific class of victims.
Impact
SB 958 amends Section 411.0728 of the Texas Government Code, which governs nondisclosure orders for certain trafficking and prostitution victims. It expands the set of predicate offenses that can qualify a person for nondisclosure and preserves the existing requirement that the person either assist law enforcement or be excused from doing so because of age or disability resulting from the offense. The bill affects criminal history record information maintained by the state and the individuals seeking to seal access to records tied to trafficking-related victimization.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate unanimously and the House by an overwhelming margin, with no recorded opposition in either chamber. The voting pattern suggests bipartisan agreement that survivors of trafficking and compelling prostitution should have improved access to nondisclosure relief.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record, and no committee transcript excerpts were provided. The main policy issue reflected in the text is how far to extend nondisclosure eligibility: the bill expands the qualifying offense categories while keeping the law-enforcement assistance requirement and the exception for victims unable to assist because of age or disability. Any disagreement would likely center on the scope of eligibility and the balance between record confidentiality and public access, but no formal opposition is shown in the votes.
Relating to the expunction of arrest records and files and the issuance of orders of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain persons.