H.B. No. 3477 proposes amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the expunction of records related to findings of criminal contempt. The bill introduces Article 55A.007, which allows individuals found in criminal contempt to have all related records and files expunged after a period of two years from the date of the contempt finding. Additionally, it clarifies that for the purposes of expunction, the term "arrest" includes the taking into custody of a person found in criminal contempt.

The bill also 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. Furthermore, it updates Article 55A.257 to specify that the Department of Public Safety can file expunction petitions on behalf of individuals described in Article 55A.251. The provisions of this Act will apply to expunctions related to criminal contempt findings occurring before, on, or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.