Regular Session
Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis
HB2594 amends the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to allow businesses to prosecute the theft of intangible personal property (trade secrets, proprietary data, digital assets) in the county where the business resides. This effectively shifts the venue advantage to the victim, allowing companies to coordinate with their local District Attorney rather than law enforcement in remote jurisdictions where a cyber-criminal or thief may be located.
Rep. William Metcalf·House Bill·Regular Session
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Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
While this is a criminal statute, you should align your civil protections. Review Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and Vendor Contracts. Ensure the "Governing Law/Venue" clauses for civil litigation match the county of your corporate headquarters. This creates a unified strategy where both civil lawsuits and criminal charges are filed in the same jurisdiction.
Update training for Chief Security Officers (CSOs) and Legal Liaison staff. They must be instructed that for digital/intangible theft, the initial police report must be filed with the agency having jurisdiction over the corporate headquarters, not necessarily where the breach originated.
You must update your Incident Response Plan (IRP).
There are no new state fees or direct costs associated with this legislation. However, utilizing local prosecution may reduce outside counsel travel costs and administrative burdens associated with remote investigations.
The statute relies on the term "resides" regarding the entity whose property was stolen, but does not strictly define corporate residency for criminal venue purposes.
JD Key Consulting specializes in Texas regulatory compliance strategy. Work directly with James Dickey—former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas—to understand this bill's impact on your operations and develop an actionable compliance plan.
Schedule a ConsultationInformation presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.
This bill's path through the Texas Legislature
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Common questions about HB2594
HB2594 amends the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to allow businesses to prosecute the theft of intangible personal property (trade secrets, proprietary data, digital assets) in the county where the business resides. This effectively shifts the venue advantage to the victim, allowing companies to coordinate with their local District Attorney rather than law enforcement in remote jurisdictions where a cyber-criminal or thief may be located.
HB2594 was authored by Texas Representative William Metcalf during the Regular Session.
HB2594 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
HB2594 is enforced by County and District Attorneys (State Prosecutors).
The regulatory priority for HB2594 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.
The cost impact of HB2594 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
HB2594 addresses topics including crimes, crimes--against property, electronic information systems, criminal procedure and criminal procedure--general.
Key dates for HB2594: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.
HB2594 primarily affects property owners and real estate professionals. These businesses should review the legislation with their legal and compliance teams to understand potential impacts.
JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.
