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HCR 12TEXASSession 892State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas Legislature urges U.S. Department of Justice to release complete Epstein investigative files

Original title: Calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to release the complete Epstein files.

Last action · August 19, 2025: FiledSponsors: Jessica González and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Proposed

The Texas House of Representatives passed a urging the U.S. Department of Justice and the Trump administration to release the complete investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution directs the Texas secretary of state to send official copies to President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

Why it matters

The measure establishes a formal state-level policy stance calling for federal transparency, though it carries no legal force or binding requirement over federal agencies.

Background

Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy financier who was federally sex-trafficking charges in 2019 before dying in federal custody. context
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on federal charges related to recruiting and grooming underage girls on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency is formally petitioned by the Texas Legislature to release complete investigative files.

Directly affected

American public

Residents are impacted by federal transparency policies and public trust regarding government investigations into criminal activity.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does House Concurrent Resolution 12 require federal agencies to do?

As a non-binding resolution, it does not legally compel federal action, but it formally urges the U.S. Department of Justice and the Trump administration to release the complete Epstein files.

Who is required to transmit the resolution to federal officials?

The Texas secretary of state is instructed to forward official copies of the resolution to President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This resolution did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

1 action

Aug 19, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

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Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift85% confidence

State Legislative Pressure on Federal Transparency

State legislatures increasingly utilize formal concurrent resolutions to petition federal agencies on matters of national public interest and transparency.

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation

Connected Entities

Dan Bongino, U.S. Department of Justice, Kash Patel and 9 more

PersonDan Bongino“Deputy FBI Director”Map →

OrganizationU.S. Department of Justice“Federal department asked to release files”Map →

PersonKash Patel“Current FBI Director”Map →

PersonPamela Bondi“U.S. Attorney General”Map →

PersonGonzález of Dallas“Author of House Concurrent Resolution 12”Map →

PersonDonald J. Trump“President of the United States”Map →

PersonJeffrey Epstein“Deceased sex offender”Map →

OrganizationThe Miami Herald“Newspaper that reported on the 2008 non-prosecution agreement”Map →

OrganizationFederal Bureau of Investigation“Federal investigative agency”Map →

PersonGhislaine Maxwell“Associate and convicted felon”Map →

PersonJ. D. Vance“Vice President”Map →

PersonAlexander Acosta“Former U.S. Attorney and U.S. Secretary of Labor”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 35)
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment40
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz50
Current news / social attention level

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