Bill > HB1820

This bill amends the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to expand the circumstances under which a person can have their arrest records and files expunged (legally erased). Currently, individuals can have their records expunged after a certain time period has elapsed or if the prosecution certifies the records are not needed. The bill adds a new provision allowing for expunction when a grand jury fails to find probable cause that the person committed the alleged offense. A grand jury's role is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal trial, and this bill specifically addresses situations where the grand jury does not find enough evidence to move forward with charges. The change applies to criminal offenses that occurred before, on, or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025. This means that individuals whose cases were dismissed by a grand jury due to lack of probable cause can now more easily have their arrest records cleared, potentially reducing the long-term personal and professional consequences of an arrest that did not result in formal charges.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1820