During the recently concluded legislative session, genealogists across the state joined together to oppose a bill that would’ve significantly affected access to Texas birth records. Currently in Texas, a birth record is public information and available to the public 75 years after the date of birth. House Bill 703 (by Rep. Cody Harris of Hillsboro) proposed to close birth records for 125 years. I’m pleased to report that the bill did not pass.
Genealogists and Historians from TxSGS, CTGS, AGS, and TSHA Opposed HB 703 at Committee Hearing
The House Public Health Committee held a hearing on HB 703 on March 6. President Susan Ball and Past President John Wylie testified on behalf of TxSGS. Several other members of the genealogical community attended the hearing to record their opposition to the bill, including Nan Kilkeary, President of the Austin Genealogical Society, and Gina Andrie, Vice President of the Central Texas Genealogical Society. We are grateful for their support. Also joining us in opposing the bill was Dr. Emilio Zamora, President of the Texas State Historical Association. We learned during the hearing that the county clerks were promoting the change.
The Public Health Committee Voted to Send an Amended HB 703 to the Full House for a Vote
Following the hearing Rep. Harris offered to meet with TxSGS and TSHA to discuss our concerns. Dr. Zamora and I met with Jeff Carlson, Rep. Harris’ chief of staff. He wondered if our members would remove our opposition if birth records were closed for 90 or 100 years instead of 125. Neither Dr. Zamora nor I were willing to concede at that point and told Mr. Carlson that we could not agree to raising the number of years. At the end of the discussion, Mr. Carlson said he understood that we might never agree with raising the age limit, and he agreed to keep talking. About a week after our meeting, and without further contact with TxSGS or TSHA, Rep. Harris had the Public Health Committee vote to send the bill to the full House after changing the closure period to 90 years.
HB 703 Was Never Calendared for a House Vote
The way the process works, a bill must be placed on a House calendar (which is the agenda listing all of the bills the House considers during each daily session) for House members to have the opportunity to vote on it. The Calendars Committee determines the daily calendar. HB 703 was never placed on a House calendar. Consequently, the House never voted on it. There was no Senate companion bill (an identical bill introduced in the Senate). So, the Senate never considered changing the closure period. There were efforts during the waning days of the session to amend the change onto another bill, but there weren’t any relevant bills to which it could be attached.
Thank You, Texas Genealogists, For Your Patience and Willingness to Voice Your Opposition!
We know that the genealogical community was ready, willing and able to swamp the Legislature with communications voicing our opposition. We made a tactical decision to hold our fire early in the process. We didn’t want to communicate too early or to the wrong audience. We were prepared to mobilize our forces if the bill made it to the Senate. As it turns out, we didn’t need to do that, but knowing the breadth of support made our message all the more resonant. We found champions and supporters for our position in the House. We joined forces with the Texas State Historical Association. We were not alone in our opposition.
Once again, TxSGS demonstrated the genealogical community is a potent force in protecting access to the records that are so important to us.
Best Regards,
Teri Flack
Chair, Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC)
Texas State Genealogical Society