The bill, S.B. No. 1515, proposes amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the expunction of records related to arrests for certain misdemeanor offenses that have been decriminalized. It introduces Article 55A.007, which entitles individuals to the expunction of all records and files related to their arrest if they were convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for a misdemeanor offense that has since been decriminalized. The bill outlines specific conditions under which expunction is granted, including the completion of any sentence or community supervision and the receipt of a dismissal and discharge under certain articles.

Additionally, the bill amends existing articles to clarify the process for filing expunction petitions and establishes guidelines for hearings related to decriminalized offenses. It allows the Department of Public Safety to file petitions on behalf of individuals and specifies that certain records may be retained for limited purposes even after expunction. The bill also waives fees for expunction petitions under specific circumstances, including those related to decriminalized offenses. The provisions of this act will apply to any misdemeanor offense committed before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.