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Sponsor outlines bill to ban invasive surveillance by state contractors after reported probes; bill left pending

3230594 · May 8, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Sponsor described House Bill 50‑61 as a response to contractor misconduct allegations and proposed prohibitions on invasive surveillance, whistleblower protections, a state auditor‑managed reporting portal and criminal investigatory authority for Texas Rangers; the committee took resource testimony and left the bill pending.

Senator Schwartner presented House Bill 50‑61 to the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce as a legislative response to alleged improper surveillance and data practices by some state contractors. The sponsor said the House bill, authored by Representative Leach, would bar contractors from engaging in invasive surveillance, intimidation, coercion, extortion, undue influence or misuse of confidential information when contracting with the state, and would create…

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