Bill > HB3477

This bill modifies Texas criminal procedure law to allow individuals who have been found in criminal contempt to have their related records and files expunged (completely erased) after a waiting period of at least two years. Specifically, the bill adds a new Article 55A.007 to the Code of Criminal Procedure, which enables a person found in criminal contempt to petition for expunction of all records related to that contempt finding. The bill clarifies that for the purposes of expunction procedures, being taken into custody for criminal contempt is considered equivalent to an arrest. Individuals seeking expunction must file an ex parte petition (a petition filed by one party without the presence of the other) in the court that originally found them in contempt. The bill applies retroactively, meaning it covers contempt findings that occurred before, on, or after the effective date, which is set for September 1, 2025. This change provides a legal mechanism for individuals to clear their records of criminal contempt after a specified time period, potentially helping them avoid long-term consequences of a past contempt finding.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3477