According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 370 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the state. The bill expands existing confidentiality protections for current and former employees of the Office of the Attorney General and their eligible family members, but any administrative costs associated with implementing these changes are expected to be absorbed using existing resources. As a result, the legislation is not anticipated to require additional appropriations or increase state expenditures.

The bill primarily modifies the scope of information protected from public disclosure and streamlines the administration of confidentiality requests. Because these changes largely involve adjustments to existing records management and public information processes rather than the creation of new programs or regulatory responsibilities, the Legislative Budget Board concluded that implementation can occur within current agency operations.

Similarly, the LBB anticipates no significant fiscal implications for local governments. Although local governmental entities may need to apply the expanded confidentiality provisions when responding to public information requests or maintaining records, these responsibilities are not expected to result in meaningful additional costs. Overall, SB 370 is projected to have a negligible fiscal impact at both the state and local levels.

Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 370 because it strengthens privacy protections for current and former employees of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and their immediate family members while preserving the overall transparency of government operations. Current law limits these confidentiality protections to employees assigned to certain divisions, such as law enforcement or child support enforcement. The bill removes those distinctions and extends the same protections to all current and former OAG employees, as well as their minor children, adult children, spouses, and surviving spouses. In doing so, the legislation brings the OAG into alignment with confidentiality protections already afforded to employees of several other governmental entities.

The bill also improves the administration of existing privacy laws by making confidentiality election forms themselves exempt from disclosure and authorizing governmental bodies to redact protected information without first obtaining an Attorney General ruling. These procedural changes reduce administrative burdens while minimizing the risk that sensitive personal information could be inadvertently released. Importantly, the legislation does not shield government records concerning official conduct or reduce governmental accountability; rather, it protects personal identifying information that could expose public servants and their families to harassment, intimidation, or other safety risks.

From a liberty-oriented perspective, SB 370 represents a measured expansion of individual privacy protections without materially increasing the size or scope of government. The bill does not establish a new regulatory program, create additional enforcement authority, or impose meaningful new obligations on the public. Instead, it extends existing confidentiality safeguards to similarly situated employees and their families, recognizing the legitimate interest in protecting personal safety while maintaining public access to information regarding government actions. On balance, the legislation appropriately advances individual privacy rights in a narrowly tailored manner and is worthy of support.

• Senate Committee on Business & Commerce: 11Y/0N
• House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency: 12Y/1N