Relating to an annual report by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on post-release or post-discharge employment and certain other inmate data.

SB 697 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to annually report on post-release employment and related data for inmates. The report, due by January 30 each year, includes statistics on how long released inmates take to find jobs (broken down by whether they received career training), occupational license applications and approvals, and employment data categorized by industry and median wages over three years. TDCJ must publish the report online and may partner with the Texas Workforce Commission to gather data. The first report is due by January 30, 2026, and the bill takes effect September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects TDCJ's reporting duties and provides transparency on inmate reintegration outcomes.