HB3185 - Relating to investigations of certain cybercrimes.

      H.B. No. 3185         AN ACT   relating to investigations of certain cybercrimes.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Government Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 426 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 426. CYBERCRIMES           Sec.   426.001.     DEFINITION. In this chapter, "cybercrime"   means an offense:                 (1)     under Chapter 31, 32, 33, 33A, 34, 35, 42, 71, 72,   or 76, Penal Code; and                 (2)     that is committed using an Internet website or an   electronic service account provided through an electronic   communication service or remote computing service.           Sec.   426.002.     ADMINISTRATIVE SUBPOENA. (a) A prosecuting   attorney may issue and cause to be served an administrative   subpoena that requires the production of records or other   documentation as described by Subsection (c) if:                 (1)     the subpoena relates to an investigation of a   cybercrime; and                 (2)     there is reasonable cause to believe that the   Internet or electronic service account provided through an   electronic communication service or remote computing service has   been used in the commission of a cybercrime.           (b)  A subpoena under Subsection (a) must:                 (1)  describe any objects or items to be produced; and                 (2)     prescribe a reasonable return date by which those   objects or items must be assembled and made available.           (c)     Except as provided by Subsection (d), a subpoena issued   under Subsection (a) may require the production of any records or   other documentation relevant to the investigation, including:                 (1)  a name;                 (2)  an address;                 (3)     a local or long distance telephone connection   record, satellite-based Internet service provider connection   record, or record of session time and duration;                 (4)     the duration of the applicable service, including   the start date for the service and the type of service used;                 (5)     a telephone or instrument number or other number   used to identify a subscriber, including a temporarily assigned   network address; and                 (6)     the source of payment for the service, including a   credit card or bank account number.           (d)     A provider of an electronic communication service or   remote computing service may not disclose the following information   in response to a subpoena issued under Subsection (a):                 (1)  an in-transit electronic communication;                 (2)     an account membership related to an Internet   group, newsgroup, mailing list, or specific area of interest;                 (3)  an account password; or                 (4)  any account content, including:                       (A)  any form of electronic mail;                       (B)     an address book, contact list, or buddy list;   or                       (C)  Internet proxy content or Internet history.           (e)     A provider of an electronic communication service or   remote computing service shall disclose the information described   by Subsection (d) if that disclosure is required by court order or   warrant, to the extent that the disclosure is not prohibited by   other law.           (f)     A person authorized to serve process under the Texas   Rules of Civil Procedure may serve a subpoena issued under   Subsection (a). The person shall serve the subpoena in accordance   with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.           (g)     Before the return date specified on a subpoena issued   under Subsection (a), the person receiving the subpoena may, in an   appropriate court located in the county where the subpoena was   issued, petition for an order to modify or quash the subpoena or to   prohibit disclosure of applicable information by a court.           (h)     If a criminal case or proceeding does not result from   the production of records or other documentation under this section   within a reasonable period, the prosecuting attorney shall, as   appropriate:                 (1)  destroy the records or documentation; or                 (2)     return the records or documentation to the person   who produced the records or documentation.           Sec.   426.003.     CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION. Any   information, records, or data reported or obtained under a subpoena   issued under Section 426.002(a):                 (1)  is confidential; and                 (2)     may not be disclosed to any other person unless the   disclosure is made as part of a criminal case related to those   materials.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 3185 was passed by the House on May   12, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 131, Nays 8, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 3185 was passed by the Senate on May   28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor