H.B. No. 4711 amends various sections of the Government Code to enhance the confidentiality of information related to the prevention, detection, response to, or investigation of hostile acts by foreign adversaries of the United States, in addition to existing protections against acts of terrorism and related criminal activities. The bill introduces new legal language that specifies that information collected by governmental entities for these purposes is confidential if it pertains to staffing requirements, tactical plans, risk assessments, encryption codes, and vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure.

Key amendments include the addition of "or a hostile act by a foreign adversary of the United States" in multiple sections, thereby broadening the scope of confidentiality to encompass threats from foreign entities. Additionally, the bill clarifies that information related to security systems protecting public or private property is confidential if it pertains to both terrorism and hostile acts by foreign adversaries. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 418.176, Government Code 418.177, Government Code 418.179, Government Code 418.180, Government Code 418.181, Government Code 418.182 (Government Code 418)