Governor signs bill into law that requires sex offender registration for 'invasive visual recording'

Written for the Temple Daily Telegram. Published June 23, 2025.

Follow up on Texas House Bill 1465, one woman, now a friend, speaks out to change the way society and law makers view 'invasive recording.'

Courtesy Photograph: Texas Rep. Hillary Hickland, R-Belton, left; Cailey Rush; and Texas Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, are seen at the Capitol building in Austin.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday signed into law House Bill 1465 that requires an individual who is convicted of the crime of “invasive visual recording” to register as a sex offender, and it already has made an impact for one local victim.

The legislation was introduced and authored by State Rep. Hillary Hickland, R-Belton.

“This was an issue brought forth by local law enforcement,” Hickland said. “I was shocked to hear that there were so many cases.”

“Invasive recording is a sexual crime by nature according to the Texas Penal Code and it is often one that lends to repeat offenders,” Hickland said. “Something had to be done.”

The legislation already has had a meaningful impact on one Temple resident.

One of the invasive visual recording cases used to gain support for the law received media attention after a former Temple Police Department officer, Brandon Mathiews, was convicted of six counts of invasive visual recording and child pornography against his then-teenage stepdaughter, Cailey Rush.

The day Hickland filed the bill was the day she and Rush, now 23, crossed paths.

“Coincidentally, I saw Cailey’s offender was being sentenced and she had expressed on social media that she had not felt that justice had been served,” Hickland said.

Rush, once an unsure child who was victimized by a family member, stood in front of the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence in March as a young adult advocating for more penalties against criminal offenders.

“She has so much strength and courage, even knowing that it wouldn’t change her case, other survivors will now benefit because of her testimony,” Hickland said.

Rush was 16 when she found her stepfather’s recording device filled with videos of her in the shower, pool and changing in her own bedroom.

“To say it feels amazing to be a part of this victory for the state of Texas would honestly be an understatement,” Rush said. “It is an honor to be a part of this and to be able to advocate for not only myself but so many others who didn’t get the chance. It’s hard to even put into words.”

The effort alongside Hickland to get the law passed has helped Rush in her own healing journey.

“Over the past six and a half years this traumatic experience I endured was something that held such a negative connotation, but after the bill was signed that changed,” Rush said. “No longer is this a sad story of how my life was completely turned upside down by the unexpected, it is now a story of the relentless pursuit for justice that ends in many victories, not just mine or even Representative Hickland’s, but anyone who falls victim to voyeurism.”

The bill was passed without any objection from Texas House representatives on May 2. It then moved to the Senate, and was officially signed by both the House and Senate on May 19. The bill is not retroactive and will not require past offenders to register as a sex offender due to constitutional issues.

“Most bills aren’t retroactive, so it goes into effect Sept. 1,” Hickland said. “But it is like a kind of redemption, to be able to use your story to inspire change and help others.”

HB 1465 ensures that individuals convicted of invasive visual recording are required to register as sex offenders, holding them accountable and preventing further harm.

“I am proud to say that I was a part of this fight for change and was able to use my testimony to support HB 1465,” Rush said. “I would like to give a huge thank you to Representative Hickland and her team for laying out the bill and giving me the opportunity to use my voice and my story to advocate for anyone who has been a victim to this and any future victim, from all of us who had to fight for ourselves we thank you for fighting for us, too.”

The crime is not a victimless crime and Rush’s testimony in front of the House of Representatives helped legislators understand her personal story.

“There was virtually no push back,” Hickland said. “One of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Phil King, was so moved because he has daughters and granddaughters. It became personal, especially now in a digital age, it’s very likely we see more crimes like this one arise.”

Because of the support of King, R-Weatherford for District 10, and everyone on both committees they achieved not one, but two unanimous votes: One for the House and one for the Senate.

Ultimately, Rush’s offender, Mathiews plead guilty to the six counts of invasive visual recording in bath/dressroom and a child pornography charge. He received a sentence of eight years probated to five by Judge Paul LePak of the 264th District Court in Belton.

His term in prison was probated five years, according to the court records. Sentencing guidelines could allow Mathiews to get credit for time served and be eligible for parole as soon as 75 days after the start of his sentence.

“After going to court expecting justice and being faced with defeat after the short sentence Brandon received, I have come to the realization that in my case, justice was never in the hands of the court,” Rush said. “It was in mine. I can confidently say that I have received my justice even though this new law is not retroactive and will not affect Brandon for my case, it will allow anyone who has to face this fight against voyeuristic crimes at least a small sense of justice knowing these predators will be known as a sex offender.”

If Mathiews is denied probation due to a violation, he would face serving the full eight years. The trial did not include a jury and was over in three days with the judge imposing sentencing, according to Rush.

“For so long I couldn’t come up with a good enough reason to justify why this had to happen to me,” Rush said. “Or how I was supposed to move on and close that chapter of my life but to sit here today and think back on all 2,391 days since I found that recorder that held his sinister secrets, I would do it all over again to be able to prevent another young girl or boy going through the same emotions of feeling lost, invisible and feeling like you have a permanent spot on the back burner.”