🔴Relating to the disclosure or release of certain information received by the attorney general regarding an application for compensation from the crime victims’ compensation fund.
HB 2355
đź”´ HB 2355: Victim Privacy or Executive Secrecy Expansion
What it says it does:
HB 2355 claims to protect crime victims by keeping their personal information confidential within the Attorney General’s Office. It prevents sensitive details like addresses or medical information from being released through public information requests.
What it actually changes:
The bill seals every record the Attorney General receives for the Crime Victims Compensation Program, not just personal details. These records can no longer be accessed through the Texas Public Information Act, subpoena, or court discovery. Even judges cannot compel their release except under limited exceptions.
Who is pushing for it:
Supporters in the files include the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, Houston Police Department, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, and the Office of the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Division.
Who benefits:
The Attorney General’s Office gains full control over all victim compensation files. Law enforcement benefits because reports transferred to the Attorney General become inaccessible to journalists, defense attorneys, or watchdogs. Victim advocacy groups gain stronger privacy assurances, but the real administrative power shifts upward to the state level.
Who gets left out or exposed:
Defendants and civil litigants lose access to potential evidence. The press and public lose transparency into how compensation claims are handled. Local communities lose the ability to see whether victims are being treated equitably or whether state programs are operating fairly.
Why this matters long term:
HB 2355 establishes a precedent that state agencies can claim total confidentiality for entire classes of records. This opens the door for other departments to close public access under the banner of “protection.” Once government decisions happen behind sealed walls, oversight fades and accountability disappears.
What to watch next:
Future sessions could use this model to hide records in health care, education, or public safety programs. Watch whether other agencies seek similar exemptions and whether courts attempt to challenge the Attorney General’s new control over evidence and records.
Bottom line:
HB 2355 presents itself as victim protection but functions as a permanent secrecy law. It removes judicial oversight, limits transparency, and gives the Attorney General unchecked control over a public compensation fund. Texans deserve privacy for survivors and accountability for their government, this bill sacrifices one for the other.
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