SB 816 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to authorizing the disclosure of certain electronic customer data by a provider of an electronic communications service or a remote computing service in certain immediate life-threatening situations.

SB 816 allows phone and internet service providers to share certain customer data with government agencies during immediate life-threatening emergencies, such as when there's a genuine belief that someone faces imminent death or serious injury. The bill specifically authorizes disclosure of electronic customer data - like location or communication records - to help prevent harm, provided the provider acts in good faith. It directly affects service providers (e.g., telecom companies) and government responders, while protecting providers from lawsuits for complying with this exception. The law amends Texas criminal procedure code to create this exception, overriding general rules that typically prohibit such data sharing without a court order. This policy change focuses on enabling rapid emergency response, not on broader data privacy or security implications.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action May 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 29, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas law to allow service providers to disclose customer data to law enforcement in immediate life-threatening situations to prevent death or serious bodily injury. The bill also adds legal protections for service providers and their employees who disclose data in these emergency situations.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope to include remote computing services alongside electronic communications services, and clarifies that disclosures must be made to law enforcement agencies in good faith belief of an immediate life-threatening situation.
SCOPE

Added remote computing services to the list of service providers authorized to disclose customer data in emergencies

ENFORCEMENT

Added immunity from lawsuits for service providers and their employees who disclose data in good faith during life-threatening emergencies

REQUIREMENT

Changed the recipient of disclosed data from 'governmental entity' to 'law enforcement agency' for clarity

TIMELINE

Established September 1, 2025 as the effective date for the new provisions

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

264
Passed
Total votes 30
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic10
10 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
16 Yea 4 Nay
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
35
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Amendments
3
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors