SB523

Regular Session

Relating to the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons that includes an alternative to the license holder's residence address.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (HR systems must be ready to process these licenses for I-9 and background checks).
Agency Rulemaking: DPS is expected to update the *Application for Driver License or Identification Card* (Form DL-14A) and internal verification procedures by August 2025. Watch for administrative guidance on the definition of "law enforcement professional" regarding private contractors.

Immediate Action Plan

Audit Personnel Files: Identify all employees classified as parole or probation officers who qualify for this privacy protection.
Draft Verification Templates: Prepare the "Proof of Office Location" letter template by July 1, 2025.
Update HR Policies: Revise data privacy policies to explicitly protect the "Physical Residence" field for these employees, as the state has legally recognized their safety risk.
Configure Payroll Systems: Ensure W-2s and benefits packets are not automatically mailed to the address on the DL (the office), but rather to the private residence on file.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Government Vendors: If your organization contracts with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) or County Community Supervision and Corrections Departments (CSCD), review Master Service Agreements (MSAs). Agencies may amend contracts to require vendors to provide necessary employment verification documentation to eligible staff.

Hiring/Training

Identity Verification: Train HR and Talent Acquisition teams that a commercial address on a Driver’s License for a parole/probation officer is a valid legal status, not a discrepancy or fraud indicator.
Fleet Management: Notify fleet insurance carriers that Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) for these employees will reflect a commercial address.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Employment Verification: You must create a standard "Verification of Employment for DPS Privacy Designation" letter. This document must certify the employee’s role and the specific physical address of their assigned office.
HRIS Data Segregation: Update Human Resources Information Systems to distinguish between "Mailing/DL Address" (Office) and "Physical Residence" (Home). You must retain the physical residence address for tax jurisdiction and benefits administration, even if the DL shows the office address.
Change of Status: If an employee transfers offices, you must notify them of their statutory obligation to update their DL with DPS within 30 days.

Fees & Costs

Direct Costs: None.
Indirect Costs: Minimal administrative time required to draft and issue employment verification letters.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Definition of "Probation Officer": The bill defines a probation officer as a "law enforcement professional that supervises individuals placed on probation." It is currently unclear if this strictly requires Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certification or if it extends to civilian case managers employed by private rehabilitation vendors.
Verification Standards: The statute does not specify the burden of proof required by DPS to verify the office address. Until rules are published, assume the burden lies with the employer to provide signed, formal documentation on company letterhead.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsCorrections Corrections--parole, Probation & Pardons Protection of Personal Information Vehicles & Traffic Vehicles & Traffic--driver's Licenses

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 523
89R4805 GP-D	By: Zaffirini
	State Affairs
	2/13/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Parole and probation officers in Texas are responsible for supervising offenders and frequently testify in revocation hearings. This work often places them at risk of retaliation or harassment from persons under supervision or criminal offenders they have testified against in court. Currently, Texas law allows certain law enforcement officials, such as peace officers, judges, U.S. marshals, and prosecutors, to use a business address on their driver's license and identification cards to protect their residential information. Parole and probation officers, however, are not included in these privacy protections, which leaves them vulnerable.

S.B. 523 would allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their Texas driver's license or Texas identification card, providing them with the same level of protection that is afforded to other law enforcement and judicial officials. This change would enhance their personal safety by preventing their home address from being publicly accessible.

As proposed, S.B. 523 amends current law relating to the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons that includes an alternative to the license holder's residence address.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 521.1211, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 521.1211. DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR PAROLE OFFICERS, PEACE OFFICERS, AND PROSECUTORS.

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 521.1211(a), (a-1), (d), and (f), Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Defines "parole officer."

(a-1) Provides that this section applies only to a parole officer, a peace officer, and a prosecutor.

(d) Requires the holder of a driver's license that includes an alternative address, if the license holder moves to a new residence, or, for a parole officer or prosecutor, to a new office address, or if the name of the person is changed by marriage or otherwise, not later than the 30th day after the date of the address or name change, to take certain actions.

(f) Requires the Department of Public Safety to accept certain alternative addresses for certain professionals, including for a parole officer, the address of an office of the parole officer. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Author

Coauthors (1)

Royce West (D)

House Sponsors

Rep. Cole HefnerRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Cosponsors (1)

Penny Morales Shaw (D)

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 523

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons
	that includes an alternative to the license holder's residence
	address.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The heading to Section 521.1211, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 521.1211. DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR PAROLE OFFICERS, PEACE
	OFFICERS, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND PROSECUTORS.
	SECTION 2. Sections 521.1211(a), (a-1), (d), and (f),
	Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a) In this section:
	(1) "Parole officer" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 508.001, Government Code.
	(1-a) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by
	Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, except that the term
	includes a special investigator as defined by Article 2A.002, Code
	of Criminal Procedure.
	(2) "Probation officer" means a law enforcement
	professional that supervises individuals placed on probation.
	(3) "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, district
	attorney, criminal district attorney, assistant county attorney,
	assistant district attorney, or assistant criminal district
	attorney.
	(a-1) This section applies only to a parole officer, a peace
	officer, a probation officer, and a prosecutor.
	(d) If the holder of a driver's license that includes an
	alternative address moves to a new residence, or, for a parole
	officer, a probation officer, or a prosecutor, to a new office
	address, or if the name of the person is changed by marriage or
	otherwise, the license holder shall, not later than the 30th day
	after the date of the address or name change, notify the department
	and provide the department with the number of the person's driver's
	license and, as applicable, the person's:
	(1) former and new addresses; or
	(2) former and new names.
	(f) The department shall accept as an alternative address:
	(1) for a parole officer, the address of an office of
	the parole officer;
	(2) for a peace officer, an address that is in the:
	(A) municipality or county of the peace officer's
	residence; or
	(B) county of the peace officer's place of
	employment; [~~and~~]
	(3) for a probation officer, the address of an office
	of the probation officer; and
	(4) [~~(2)~~] for a prosecutor, the address of an office
	of the prosecutor.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


February 23, 2025

TO:	Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB523 by Zaffirini (Relating to the issuance of a driver's license to certain persons that includes an alternative to the license holder's residence address.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend certain rules related to the issuance to certain persons of a driver's license that includes an alternative address to the license holder's residence address. It is assumed that any fiscal impacts associated with the bill would be insignificant.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 313 Department of Information Resources, 405 Department of Public Safety

LBB Staff:

JMc, WP, CSh, KVEL

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB523

What does Texas SB523 do?

Senate Bill 523 mandates that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) allow parole and probation officers to use their employment (office) address on driver’s licenses rather than their residence address. This legislation creates a new category of protected private information for employees in the corrections and rehabilitation sector, requiring HR departments to adjust identity verification protocols and data management systems to accommodate commercial addresses on government-issued IDs. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (HR systems must be ready to process these licenses for I-9 and background checks).

Who authored SB523?

SB523 was authored by Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini during the Regular Session.

When was SB523 signed into law?

SB523 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB523?

SB523 is enforced by Department of Public Safety (DPS).

How urgent is compliance with SB523?

The compliance urgency for SB523 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB523?

The cost impact of SB523 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB523 address?

SB523 addresses topics including corrections, corrections--parole, probation & pardons, protection of personal information, vehicles & traffic and vehicles & traffic--driver's licenses.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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