Use the Action Button on this page to reach the Senate State Affairs Committee and let them know you oppose SB 14!

LPTexas invites you to join with us in opposition to SB 14, which mandates the creation and confidentiality of a new “department file” maintained by law enforcement agencies for each licensed officer—including documents related to alleged misconduct that were not substantiated. Transparency in law enforcement personnel management is important, but this bill creates a dangerous avenue for secrecy and shields public servants from meaningful scrutiny.

SB 14 would:

• Create a secondary confidential file not subject to the Texas Public Information Act, even when it includes documents related to potential misconduct.
  
• Allows hiring agencies to access the file, but bars public access—including journalists, oversight organizations, or victims seeking redress.
  
• Limits public disclosure, even for information that may be essential to criminal defense, unless compelled through specific legal exceptions.
  
• Obstructs community oversight by insulating officers from reputational and legal consequences of patterns of misconduct that don’t result in formal discipline.

Rather than building trust, this bill undermines it. True accountability comes from openness, not secrecy. Shielding law enforcement records from public view—even when misconduct is alleged but not fully substantiated—fosters a culture of impunity and erodes community confidence in the justice system.