Relating to access to and use of criminal history record information by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
HB 4344 allows the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) to access criminal history records from the FBI and Texas law enforcement agencies for background checks on job applicants, current employees, and contractors. The bill requires the PUC to keep this information confidential and prohibits sharing it with anyone except under court order or with the individual's consent. It also mandates that the PUC destroy these records after use. This law applies to all PUC employment and contracting decisions, effective September 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Apr 1, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Jun 20, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted from a draft version to the final enrolled version, adding official signatures, certification of passage votes, and proper legislative formatting. The substantive policy content regarding criminal history record access by the Public Utility Commission of Texas remains unchanged.
Scope change
No substantive policy changes; only formatting and official enrollment documentation were added.
TECHNICAL
Added official enrolled bill header, signature lines for legislative officers, and certification of House and Senate passage votes with specific dates and vote counts.
Removed draft metadata including bill number formatting, page numbers, and internal document identifiers.
Reorganized text layout to match standard enrolled bill formatting with proper spacing and section numbering.
Floor votes · House May 1, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
55
Key actions
16
Committee
11
Amendments
6
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 23, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
upper
May 23, 2025
Introduced
Text of Senate Amendment(s)
lower
May 23, 2025
Introduced
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
lower
May 20, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
lower
May 20, 2025
Introduced
Senate Amendments distributed
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage as amended reported
lower
May 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Business & Commerce
upper
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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