Texas lawmakers could soon consider sweeping restrictions on Flock cameras and other automated license plate readers, including a prohibition on sharing collected information with federal agencies.
House Bill 763, filed Monday by state Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, would limit how government agencies use the cameras, require most collected data to be destroyed within 48 hours and establish penalties for violations.
The proposal comes amid growing scrutiny of the surveillance technology across Texas, particularly over concerns about privacy, unauthorized searches and access to information by federal immigration authorities.
Texas currently has no statewide law specifically governing how police departments use automated license plate readers, leaving individual agencies to establish many of their own rules.
HB 763 would change that by limiting government use of the cameras to specific purposes, including investigating felonies, locating missing people, recovering stolen vehicles and identifying uninsured or unregistered vehicles.
The legislation would also permit their use for toll collection, parking enforcement and controlling access to secured areas.
However, agencies would be prohibited from sharing captured license plate data with the federal government, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sharing with other government agencies would be restricted to purposes specifically authorized by the bill.
Most collected information would have to be destroyed within 48 hours, although exceptions would apply to evidence in criminal proceedings, warrants and certain preservation requests.
The legislation would also require agencies to publish policies governing camera use and submit annual reports detailing how the technology is used, including the number of scans conducted and arrests resulting from database searches.
Texans harmed by violations could sue for damages. Successful claimants would be entitled to actual damages or $1,000 in statutory damages, along with court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
The proposal follows KPRC 2 investigations into the use of Flock cameras across Greater Houston, including an ENOUGH investigation that identified at least seven Houston-area officers accused of misusing the technology.
Concerns over surveillance have also prompted local action. Harris County commissioners voted in October to establish an oversight group for the technology, while League City voters rejected continued use of Flock cameras in the November general election.
Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, have defended the cameras as valuable tools for solving crimes, recovering stolen vehicles and locating missing people.
Texas has already taken steps to limit public spending on the technology, including restrictions on certain state funding for automated license plate readers.
Unlike those funding measures, HB 763 would establish statewide rules governing how government agencies operate the cameras and handle the information they collect.
The bill was filed ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature, which convenes Jan. 12, 2027.
