The original post: /r/privacy by /u/rowdyMango on 2025-04-20 12:10:25.

https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB3439/2025

I’m trying to understand if I’m overreacting here and don’t know enough about the topic. This bill looks like a big expansion of state surveillance powers, and is going to public hearing next week on the 25th, but I haven’t seen any discussion about this.

1. Designates divisions of the Attorney General’s office as their own law enforcement agency sepparate from local police or sherriffs.
2. Allows the AG to subpoena customer data from ISP’s and telecom compoanies without going through courts
3. Authorizes the AG to use tracking devices like ESN readers and pen registers, again without court orders
4. This is a elected position that is often super political, and the bill ads no new transparency or oversight requirements for these new powers to prevent abuse

This feels like its moving power away from local agencies and courts and into the hands of a single political office. Am I missing any context that makes this less troubling?