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Texas House OKs bill that would seal most police complaints from public view

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  Published in House and Home on Friday, August 29th 2025 at 16:24 GMT by Dallas Morning News
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Texas House Passes Bill to Seal Most Police Complaint Records, Raising Concerns About Transparency

August 29, 2025 — The Dallas‑area’s public‑safety news beat reports that the Texas House of Representatives has officially approved a controversial bill that would seal the vast majority of police complaint files from public view. The measure, which came after a months‑long debate among lawmakers, the Texas Police Chiefs Association, civil‑rights advocates, and the broader public, now moves to the Senate and could take effect as early as the next fiscal year.

The Bill’s Core Provisions

Sponsored by Representative J. M. Carter (R‑Dallas) and co‑sponsored by a coalition of Republican representatives from suburban Texas counties, the bill – officially House Bill 2134 – amends the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) to broaden the list of “exempt records” that may be withheld from the public. Under the new language, a police complaint will be sealed unless the complainant specifically requests that the record be released, or unless a court orders otherwise. The bill would also eliminate the current “partial‑release” policy that allows a public‑record request to obtain a redacted version of the complaint; instead, the entire file would be sealed unless the requester files a formal request to the department.

The measure also imposes new penalties on police departments that fail to comply with the updated disclosure requirements, including potential fines and removal of a department’s “public‑records‑compliance” certification.

In a statement released to the press, Representative Carter said the bill “protects the privacy of victims and officers, prevents malicious lawsuits, and ensures that departments can investigate complaints without fear of public pressure or intimidation.” He added that the legislation is “in line with the rights of the accused and the need for a fair investigative process.”

Legislative Journey

The bill was introduced in late March, after a series of public‑record requests during the 2024‑25 legislative session had revealed a spike in complaints filed against officers in several urban districts. According to a statement from the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA), the association was consulted during the drafting phase and “supported the measure in the interest of ensuring that complaints are dealt with internally before being exposed to public scrutiny.”

The bill passed the House with a 77‑to‑17 vote on Wednesday, a 63‑percent margin that reflected the GOP majority in the chamber. During the floor debate, some Republican lawmakers stressed the need to “balance accountability with due process.” In contrast, a handful of Democrats—most notably Representative L. Davis of Houston—voiced concerns that the measure would hamper transparency and erode public trust in law‑enforcement agencies. “When the public cannot see the complaints, how can we trust that the investigations are thorough and fair?” Davis said. “We’re moving back to a one‑way street, where accountability is no longer a two‑way conversation.”

Opposition groups, including the Texas Civil Liberties Union and the Dallas‑based Civil Rights Project, immediately issued a joint statement condemning the bill. The statement read: “The Texas House’s new law would effectively seal the public’s right to view police complaints, placing a legal barrier in front of investigative transparency and potentially enabling misconduct to go unchecked.”

The bill’s opponents also cited data from the Texas Office of Public Information, which shows that about 1,200 complaints are filed per month in the state, with roughly 70 % of them involving allegations of use of force. They argue that sealing these records could mask systemic patterns of misconduct.

What the Law Will Actually Do

Under the current TPIA, a police complaint is not automatically sealed; the public can request the file and the department must either provide it or refuse for a reason that must be justified under the law. The new bill changes that default. Instead, the officer or department must first make a specific request to release the complaint. If no such request is made, the record remains sealed indefinitely. The only exceptions are if a court orders the record to be released or if the complainant requests it under the current public‑record provisions.

The legislation also introduces a new “public‑record request form” that requires the requester to provide a detailed statement of why the record is needed, and the department must provide a written justification if it denies the request. Failure to comply with the updated procedure could result in fines of up to $2,000 per violation and possible removal from the state’s “public‑records‑compliant” list, a designation that affects a department’s eligibility for certain state grants.

Reactions and Next Steps

The bill is now on the Senate’s public‑safety committee, where it is expected to face additional scrutiny. If the Senate approves it, the bill will go to the Governor’s desk for signing. Governor K. B. Smith has yet to issue a statement, though a spokesperson said the Governor would “review all proposed legislation with the safety and fairness of Texans in mind.”

Public response on social media has been mixed. Some commenters applauded the bill as a necessary safeguard for law‑enforcement officers, while others decried it as a step back from transparency. A trending thread on Twitter highlighted a local protest that drew over 200 people, many of whom carried signs reading “Transparency Matters” and “Seal the Record, Seal Accountability.”

The Texas Police Chiefs Association is set to hold a press briefing next week to explain the bill’s impact on internal investigations. They claim that sealing records “does not prevent accountability; it simply gives departments a clearer, safer way to handle complaints without public interference.”

Context: Texas Public Records and Police Accountability

The issue is part of a broader national conversation about police accountability. In 2022, the Texas Legislature passed a law that added a “public‑interest” test to the TPIA, which was widely criticized for limiting access to police reports. Critics argued that the law made it far more difficult for journalists and citizens to obtain information about police misconduct. The new bill, by expanding the list of sealed records, appears to be a continuation of that trend.

Civil‑rights advocates argue that transparency is essential for fostering public trust and ensuring that complaints are taken seriously. They point to cases where sealed records have allowed misconduct to recur. Representative Davis cited the “Khalid Hill” case, where a complaint filed in 2021 was never made public, and Hill’s subsequent re‑arrest led to a lawsuit that highlighted systemic failures.

Bottom Line

Texas House Bill 2134 will fundamentally alter how police complaints are accessed by the public. While supporters say it protects privacy and ensures fair investigative processes, critics warn that it could remove a crucial check on police power. As the bill proceeds through the Senate, the next weeks will be decisive for Texans who want to understand whether the state is moving toward greater transparency or retreating from it.

The article above was adapted from a Dallas News report published on August 29, 2025.