A bill aimed at increasing police transparency is headed to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill 30 was passed by the Texas Legislature and required the signatures of Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Patrick signed it on Tuesday.
The bill closes what is referred to as the “dead suspect loophole.” It is actually a statute that was passed by the Texas Legislature back in 1997. It was designed to protect the privacy of the wrongly accused.
However, critics say police have used the statute to deny information to families seeking answers in connection to the deaths of loved ones and journalists investigating in-custody deaths.
There was renewed interest in closing the so-called loophole following the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The statute had the potential to block evidence such as surveillance videos and 911 calls.