Bill > HB2229

This bill expands the legal authority of statutory county courts in Texas regarding the expunction (legal process of erasing or sealing) of arrest records and files. Specifically, the bill allows statutory county courts to expunge arrest records for offenses within their jurisdictional scope, a power previously limited to district courts, justice courts, and municipal courts of record. The legislation modifies several articles in the Code of Criminal Procedure to explicitly include statutory county courts in the expunction process, such as allowing these courts to enter expunction orders within 30 days of an acquittal or pardon, and permitting individuals to file ex parte petitions for expunction in a statutory county court for arrests related to offenses within that court's jurisdiction. Additionally, the bill adds a new provision stating that statutory county courts have concurrent jurisdiction with district courts for expunction proceedings involving offenses under their purview. A filing fee of $100 is required for expunction petitions in these courts, and the changes in law will apply retroactively to criminal offenses that occurred before, on, or after the effective date of September 1, 2025. These modifications aim to provide more flexible legal pathways for individuals seeking to clear their arrest records in Texas.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2229