# Can You Expunge an Eviction in Texas? (2026: No)

> Texas has no way to seal or expunge an eviction. HB 2909 died in committee. Why it

URL: https://evictionfriendlyapartments.com/guide/can-you-get-an-eviction-expunged-in-texas/
Last-Modified: 2026-07-10

Every renter with a Texas eviction eventually asks: can I get this expunged? The short answer, as of 2026, is no. Texas has no legal mechanism to seal or expunge an eviction record. It’s not a matter of paying a fee or waiting a year. The record is permanent.

Here’s what that means, why it’s structured that way, and what actually works instead.

## Why Texas eviction records are permanent

Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 76a, court records are presumed open to the public. This applies to Justice of the Peace court filings — where eviction cases are heard. Once a landlord files an eviction case, the filing enters the public JP court record and stays there permanently, regardless of what happens next:

-   **Judgment against the tenant**: filing stays, judgment stays
-   **Dismissed with prejudice**: filing stays, dismissal noted
-   **Dismissed without prejudice**: filing stays, dismissal noted
-   **Nonsuited by landlord**: filing stays, nonsuit noted
-   **Judgment for the tenant (rare)**: filing stays, ruling noted
-   **Case settled and dismissed**: filing stays, disposition noted

The filing itself is the public record. The outcome is a note on the record. Neither disappears.

Texas has no statutory mechanism analogous to criminal record expungement for evictions. Some states (California, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon) have created eviction sealing programs in the last few years. Texas has not.

![TRCP Rule 76a public records statute on screen](/images/misc/trcp-rule-76a-public-records-text-on-screen-with-t.webp)

## What HB 2909 would have changed (and why it didn’t)

House Bill 2909 was filed in the Texas Legislature in March 2025. It would have created two paths to eviction expungement:

1.  Automatic sealing for evictions dismissed in favor of the tenant, after a defined waiting period
2.  Petition-based sealing for renters who could demonstrate rehabilitation and clean rental history since the eviction

The bill died in committee. It never received a vote in the House. There is no scheduled successor bill in the 2026 legislative session as of publication.

**Why it failed**: Texas landlord and property management interests opposed it, arguing that renters deserve transparent screening. Renter advocacy groups (BASTA, Texas Housers) supported it but lacked the votes. Similar bills in prior sessions have also failed.

## The one Texas program that ever sealed evictions — and why it’s over

The Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) ran from 2021 to 2023 as a COVID-era emergency program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. TEDP was the only time in Texas history when eviction records could be sealed — participants who completed the program had their eviction records sealed at the JP court level.

The program processed over 25,000 applicants and distributed more than $243 million in rental assistance. It closed permanently in 2023.

More importantly, SB 38 (effective January 2026) explicitly prohibits the Governor or Texas Supreme Court from suspending or modifying eviction procedures during emergencies. This means anything like TEDP cannot be recreated under current law without new legislation. See our 

TEDP guide

[/guide/what-was-the-texas-eviction-diversion-program-tedp/ →](/guide/what-was-the-texas-eviction-diversion-program-tedp/)

 for details.

## What actually works instead of expungement

Since expungement isn’t an option, the practical strategy is threefold:

**1\. The FCRA 7-year window.** While the court filing is permanent, tenant screening reports are supposed to stop reporting eviction data older than 7 years under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This is what actually clears your rental screening exposure over time. Our 

how long an eviction stays

[/guide/how-long-does-an-eviction-stay-on-your-record-in-texas/ →](/guide/how-long-does-an-eviction-stay-on-your-record-in-texas/)

 guide covers this.

**2\. Screening report disputes.** You can dispute inaccurate information on your screening report under the FCRA. If your eviction is showing as unpaid when it’s paid, dismissed as judgment, or over 7 years old, dispute it. See our 

dispute guide

[/guide/how-to-dispute-an-eviction-on-your-screening-report/ →](/guide/how-to-dispute-an-eviction-on-your-screening-report/)

.

**3\. Get placed at properties that approve eviction cases.** Many Texas properties will approve renters with eviction records — under the right conditions. Our free service verifies which properties in your target city will approve your specific file.

![Renter researching eviction record alternatives](/images/misc/renter-at-laptop-researching-eviction-expungement-.webp)

## What about the balance? Doesn’t paying help?

Paying an eviction balance doesn’t remove the filing — but it does update the balance status from “unpaid” to “satisfied” on your screening report, which meaningfully improves approval odds. See our 

does paying help

[/guide/does-paying-off-an-eviction-improve-approval-odds/ →](/guide/does-paying-off-an-eviction-improve-approval-odds/)

 guide and our 

balance paid service

[/apartments-that-accept-evictions-balance-paid/ →](/apartments-that-accept-evictions-balance-paid/)

.

## The bottom line

-   No expungement path exists in Texas as of 2026
-   Court filings are permanent under TRCP Rule 76a
-   Screening reports should drop the flag after 7 years under the FCRA
-   Getting placed at approving properties is the real solution, not erasing the record

If you’re trying to rent with an eviction on your record, expungement isn’t the answer — and anyone advertising expungement services in Texas is either selling nothing or misleading you. What works is finding the properties that will approve your file. That’s what we do.

**This guide is not legal advice. For legal questions about your specific eviction, consult a licensed Texas attorney.**

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is there any way to seal an eviction in Texas?

+

No — no legal mechanism seals or expunges eviction records in Texas. Court records are permanent public record under TRCP Rule 76a.

### What was HB 2909?

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A March 2025 bill that would have created eviction expungement paths. It died in committee without a vote and was not revived in 2026.

### If Texas has no expungement, what can I do?

+

Get placed at properties that approve renters with eviction records, dispute inaccuracies on screening reports, and understand that after 7 years the screening flag should drop off under the FCRA.

## Related Guides

### 10 Mistakes Renters With Evictions Make on Applications (And How to Avoid Them)

The 10 costly mistakes renters with evictions make when applying — and exactly how to avoid each and stop wasting fees.

[10 Mistakes Renters With Evictions Make on Applications (And How to Avoid Them) →](/guide/10-mistakes-renters-with-evictions-make-on-applications/)

### Can You Be Denied Housing for a Dismissed Eviction in Texas?

Why dismissed filings still appear and get renters denied — and how to prove the dismissal to leasing offices.

[Can You Be Denied Housing for a Dismissed Eviction in Texas? →](/guide/can-you-be-denied-housing-for-a-dismissed-eviction-in-texas/)

### How Eviction Records Work in Texas: Court Records vs. Screening Reports vs. Credit Reports

The three record systems untangled: JP court records (permanent), screening reports (7-year FCRA), credit reports (debt only).

[How Eviction Records Work in Texas: Court Records vs. Screening Reports vs. Credit Reports →](/guide/court-records-vs-screening-reports-vs-credit-reports/)

### Eviction-Friendly Apartments FAQ: Everything Renters Are Afraid to Ask

Straight answers to the anxiety questions renters with evictions are afraid to ask — approvals, costs, records, options.

[Eviction-Friendly Apartments FAQ: Everything Renters Are Afraid to Ask →](/guide/eviction-friendly-apartments-faq/)

## Don't Get Denied Again. Talk to a Texas Expert Today.

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