Texas House Bill HB598

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/6/09
• Voted on by House: 4/21/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/23/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/27/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Report Pass: 5/23/09
• Enrolled: 5/28/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the information displayed on certain licenses.

Impact

If enacted, HB598 will specifically modify Section 521.121 of the Transportation Code, affecting how driver's licenses for federal and state judges—along with their spouses—are issued and displayed. It establishes a clear procedure for judges to apply for a duplicate license that does not disclose their home address while still maintaining necessary identification details. This measure is anticipated to provide better security safeguards for judges by limiting public access to personal information that could be exploited.

Summary

House Bill 598 aims to amend the Transportation Code related to the information displayed on the driver's licenses of certain federal and state judges and their spouses. The bill's main provision allows these individuals to omit their residential addresses from their licenses, replacing them instead with the street address of the courthouse where they serve. This change is designed to enhance privacy and safety for judges who may be at risk of retaliation or harm due to their judicial positions. Such an amendment reflects a growing concern about the security of public officials.

Contention

While the bill may be well-received among judiciary members for increasing their safety, it could provoke debate regarding privacy versus public transparency. Critics may argue that such provisions could create a precedent for other public officials seeking similar protections, which might complicate the general understanding of public records. Moreover, there is a potential concern that withholding residential information could impact law enforcement or public services that rely on accurate address data for various operational purposes.