TAB-Backed DOB Legislation Passes Texas House

posted on 4.17.2023

The Texas House of Representative has sent a bill allowing access to dates of birth information in select circumstances to the upper chamber.

House lawmakers approved HB 2309 by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, in a 143-0 vote on April 14.

The legislation ensures public access to dates of birth records in criminal justice and electoral candidate documents. 

DOBs are found in a multitude of public records, including the state’s sex-offender database, arrest and jail records, civil legal filings, candidate applications, voter registration rolls and others.  

Public access to them has largely been cut off by two Texas court decisions that have caused confusion among governmental agencies about what records can be released. 

Since the rulings, more than 28,000 Texas attorney general decisions have been issued shutting off access to information. 

The result is the inability to verify information when dealing with common names.

Disclosing dates of birth on applications filed by candidates for public office also helps the public properly identify and better understand who is on the ballot. 

Disclosing dates of birth in criminal justice documents, such as arrest records, is crucial to identifying the correct person at the time an arrest is made. 

It also ensures that background check companies and other businesses can obtain accurate information when deciding who to hire.

Similar measures passed the Senate in 2017, and the House in 2019 and 2021, but have not passed both houses in the same session.

Questions?  Email TAB or call (512) 322-9944.

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