🟡An Act relating to the prosecution of certain criminal offenses involving the unlawful disclosure of a residence address or telephone number

HB 3425

🟡 HB 3425: Expands anti-doxing laws but leaves ordinary Texans behind

What it says it does:
HB 3425 expands Texas’s existing anti-doxing law. It makes it a crime to share someone’s home address or phone number through texts, emails, or social media with intent to cause harm.

What it actually changes:
It creates a new rule that if a public servant or retired peace officer asks for their information to be removed and it is not taken down within 48 hours, or is reposted within four years, that alone counts as evidence of intent to cause harm. This makes it easier to prosecute those who post information about officials, while regular Texans still have to prove intent.

Who is pushing for it:
The bill was authored by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-HD98) with coauthors Rep. Joe Moody (D-HD78), Rep. David Spiller (R-HD68), Rep. Mihaela Plesa (D-HD70), and Rep. Candy Noble (R-HD89). It was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-SD21). No PACs or outside groups were listed in the files.

Who benefits:
Public servants, law enforcement officers, and retired peace officers gain stronger legal protection from online harassment. Prosecutors also gain broader discretion when proving intent.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Ordinary Texans remain under weaker protection. If their personal information is posted online, they still have to prove malicious intent, even though the same act against a public official would automatically count as criminal. Journalists and citizens who share public records could face risk if prosecutors interpret intent too broadly.

Why this matters long term:
HB 3425 creates a two-tier system of protection that favors government insiders. It sets a precedent for giving officials special treatment under criminal law while everyday people face higher standards to prove harm. Over time, this could weaken equal protection and discourage legitimate public speech.

What to watch next:
Whether prosecutors apply this law fairly, or use it selectively to protect officials from criticism. Whether future bills expand these special protections even further instead of extending them to all Texans equally.

Bottom line:
HB 3425 addresses a real issue, but it does so unevenly. It strengthens safety for those in power while leaving regular Texans with weaker protections and more legal risk.

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