The bill, H.B. No. 3477, proposes amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the expunction of records related to findings of criminal contempt. It introduces a new article, Article 55A.007, which allows individuals found in criminal contempt to have all related records and files expunged after a period of 40 years has passed since the contempt finding. Additionally, the bill clarifies that for the purposes of expunction, the term "arrest" will include the taking into custody of a person found in criminal contempt.

Furthermore, the bill amends Article 55A.251 to allow individuals entitled to expunction under the new Article 55A.007 to file an ex parte petition for expunction in the court that issued the contempt finding. It also updates Article 55A.257 to enable the Department of Public Safety to file expunction petitions on behalf of individuals described in the amended articles. The provisions of this act will apply to expunctions related to criminal contempt findings occurring before, on, or after the effective date of the bill, which is set for September 1, 2025.