Privacy Law Library

Protection of Driver's License and Social Security Numbers

Texas SSN Protection Law

Data security

Restricts public display and insecure transmission of Social Security numbers, requires a privacy policy before a business may demand an SSN, and limits merchants' use of driver's license and Social Security numbers collected for returns. It also bars printing driver's license numbers on sales receipts.

Where
Texas
Citation
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code ch. 501 (501.001-501.102)
Status
In force
In force since
2009-04-01
Last amended
2010-01-01
Enforced by
Texas Attorney General or county prosecuting attorney
People can sue
No
Penalties
Civil penalties up to $500 per violation or per calendar month depending on the provision, plus injunctions (501.002, 501.053, 501.102).
Applies to
  • Non-government persons handling Social Security numbers (501.001-501.002)
  • Persons requiring an SSN to do business, except GLBA, FERPA, and HIPAA privacy-policy holders, insurance covered entities, and most governmental bodies (501.051-501.052)
  • Merchants and their contractors collecting driver's license or SSNs on returns; anyone printing receipts (501.101-501.1011)

What a privacy notice must say

  • Before requiring an SSN to provide goods or services, adopt and make available a privacy policy covering how personal information is collected, used, shared, and protected, and keep SSNs confidential and secure.Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 501.052

Practices it requires

  • Do not publicly display SSNs, print them on access cards, or require them to be sent over the Internet without a secure connection or encryption.Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 501.001(a)
  • Merchants may use a driver's license or SSN collected for a no-receipt return only for identification and may not disclose it to unrelated third parties.Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 501.101
  • Do not print a driver's license number on a sales receipt.Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 501.1011 · From 2010-01-01

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-24 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: The complete list of 501.001(a) prohibitions beyond the first four items was not re-read.

Research reference, not legal advice.