TITLE: Relating to open meetings of governmental bodies.

SUMMARY: Relating to open meetings of governmental bodies.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to open meetings of governmental bodies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 551.0025 to read as follows: Sec. 551.0025. REQUIREMENTS FOR OPEN MEETING WITH RESTRICTED PUBLIC ACCESS. (a) This section applies only to an open meeting of a governmental body where public access to any open portion of the meeting is limited or restricted. (b) The requirements prescribed by this section are in addition to other requirements of law applicable to an open meeting. This section prevails to the extent of a conflict with another provision of law. (c) A governmental body that holds a meeting to which this section applies shall: (1) broadcast audio and video of all open portions of the meeting live over the Internet and provide a link to the broadcast in the notice of the meeting; or (2) allow members of the public to listen to live audio of all open portions of the meeting by telephone, provide a toll-free telephone number for that purpose, and include the toll-free telephone number in the notice of the meeting. (d) If a governmental body makes an audio and video recording of the open portions of a meeting under Subsection (c)(3), the governmental body shall: (e) If a governmental body holds a meeting to which this section applies and at which members of the public are allowed to address the body, including a meeting to which Section 551.007 applies, the governmental body: (1) shall allow members of the public to address the body by telephone; (2) may allow members of the public to address the body over the Internet; and (3) shall provide in the notice of the meeting a toll-free telephone number and, if applicable, an Internet link for the purposes of Subdivisions (1) and (2). SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.