89R6404 BCH-F
By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 1571
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to access to and notification of protective order registry
information.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Anthony's Law.
SECTION 2. Section 72.155, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 72.155. RESTRICTED ACCESS TO PROTECTIVE ORDER
REGISTRY. (a) The registry must include a copy of each
application for a protective order filed in this state and a copy of
each protective order issued in this state, including an expired
order, or a vacated order other than an order that was vacated as
the result of an appeal or bill of review from a district or county
court. Only an authorized user, the attorney general, a district
attorney, a criminal district attorney, a county attorney, a
municipal attorney, an attorney representing a party in a civil
action, a victim of family violence or of an offense for which a
protective order may be granted under Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal
Procedure, who is representing himself or herself in a civil
action, a magistrate, or a peace officer may access that
information under the registry.
(b) The office shall ensure that an authorized user, the
attorney general, a district attorney, a criminal district
attorney, a county attorney, a municipal attorney, an attorney
representing a party in a civil action, a victim of family violence
or of an offense for which a protective order may be granted under
Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal Procedure, who is representing himself
or herself in a civil action, a magistrate, or a peace officer is
able to search for and receive a copy of a filed application for a
protective order or a copy of an issued protective order through the
registry's Internet website.
SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 72, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 72.1555 to read as follows:
Sec. 72.1555. ACCESS TO AND NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN
REGISTRY INFORMATION. (a) The protective order registry must be
configured to provide access to information in the registry to:
(1) a court with jurisdiction over a case in which a
person who is subject to a protective order appears related to a
civil violation of the protective order or for any criminal
offense;
(2) the attorney general or a district attorney,
criminal district attorney, county attorney, or municipal attorney
who is prosecuting a person who is subject to the protective order;
(3) an attorney representing a party in a civil action
or a victim of family violence or of an offense for which a
protective order may be granted under Chapter 7B, Code of Criminal
Procedure, who is representing himself or herself in a civil
action; or
(4) a peace officer who is investigating a person who
is subject to the protective order.
(b) If a person subject to a protective order issued by a
court appears in a court of another county for a civil violation of
the protective order or any criminal offense, the registry must be
configured to provide notice to the court that issued the
protective order of:
(1) the time, place, and nature of the person's
violation or offense;
(2) the name and location of the court with
jurisdiction over the violation or offense;
(3) the name and contact information of the attorney
general or the district attorney, criminal district attorney,
county attorney, or municipal attorney who is prosecuting the
violation or offense; and
(4) the name and contact information of any peace
officer whose information is included in the registry as the
investigator for the violation or offense.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.