reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Govt Code § 551.0015 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.0015. Certain Property Owners' Associations Subject to Law

Sec. 551.0015.  CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS SUBJECT TO LAW.(a)  A property owners' association is subject to this chapter in the same manner as a governmental body:(1)  if:(A)  membership in the property owners' association is mandatory for owners or for a defined class of owners of private real property in a defined geographic area in a county with a population of 2.8 million or more or in a county adjacent to a county with a population of 2.8 million or more;(B)  the property owners' association has the power to make mandatory special assessments for capital improvements or mandatory regular assessments;  and(C)  the amount of the mandatory special or regular assessments is or has ever been based in whole or in part on the value at which the state or a local governmental body assesses the property for purposes of ad valorem taxation under Section 20, Article VIII, Texas Constitution; or(2)  if the property owners' association:(A)  provides maintenance, preservation, and architectural control of residential and commercial property within a defined geographic area in a county with a population of 2.8 million or more or in a county adjacent to a county with a population of 2.8 million or more; and(B)  is a corporation that:(i)  is governed by a board of trustees who may employ a general manager to execute the association's bylaws and administer the business of the corporation;(ii)  does not require membership in the corporation by the owners of the property within the defined area; and(iii)  was incorporated before January 1, 2006.(b)  The governing body of the association, a committee of the association, and members of the governing body or of a committee of the association are subject to this chapter in the same manner as the governing body of a governmental body, a committee of a governmental body, and members of the governing body or of a committee of the governmental body.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1084, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1367 (H.B. 3674), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.|
TX Govt Code § 551.002 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.002. Open Meetings Requirement

Sec. 551.002.  OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENT.  Every regular, special, or called meeting of a governmental body shall be open to the public, except as provided by this chapter.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 551.003 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.003. Legislature

Sec. 551.003.  LEGISLATURE.  In this chapter, the legislature is exercising its powers to adopt rules to prohibit secret meetings of the legislature, committees of the legislature, and other bodies associated with the legislature, except as specifically permitted in the constitution.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 551.0035 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.0035. Attendance by Governmental Body at Legislative Committee or Agency Meeting

Sec. 551.0035.  ATTENDANCE BY GOVERNMENTAL BODY AT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OR AGENCY MEETING.  (a)  This section applies only to the attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at a meeting of a committee or agency of the legislature.  This section does not apply to attendance at the meeting by members of the legislative committee or agency holding the meeting.(b)  The attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at a meeting of a committee or agency of the legislature is not considered to be a meeting of that governmental body if the deliberations at the meeting by the members of that governmental body consist only of publicly testifying at the meeting, publicly commenting at the meeting, and publicly responding at the meeting to a question asked by a member of the legislative committee or agency.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 447, Sec. 1, eff. June 4, 2001.|
TX Govt Code § 551.004 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.004. Open Meetings Required by Charter

Sec. 551.004.  OPEN MEETINGS REQUIRED BY CHARTER.  This chapter does not authorize a governmental body to close a meeting that a charter of the governmental body:(1)  prohibits from being closed;  or(2)  requires to be open.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 551.006 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.006. Written Electronic Communications Accessible to Public

Sec. 551.006.  WRITTEN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC.  (a)  A communication or exchange of information between members of a governmental body about public business or public policy over which the governmental body has supervision or control does not constitute a meeting or deliberation for purposes of this chapter if:(1)  the communication is in writing;(2)  the writing is posted to an online message board or similar Internet application that is viewable and searchable by the public; and(3)  the communication is displayed in real time and displayed on the online message board or similar Internet application for no less than 30 days after the communication is first posted.(b)  A governmental body may have no more than one online message board or similar Internet application to be used for the purposes described in Subsection (a).  The online message board or similar Internet application must be owned or controlled by the governmental body, prominently displayed on the governmental body's primary Internet web page, and no more than one click away from the governmental body's primary Internet web page.(c)  The online message board or similar Internet application described in Subsection (a) may only be used by members of the governmental body or staff members of the governmental body who have received specific authorization from a member of the governmental body.  In the event that a staff member posts a communication to the online message board or similar Internet application, the name and title of the staff member must be posted along with the communication.(d)  If a governmental body removes from the online message board or similar Internet application a communication that has been posted for at least 30 days, the governmental body shall maintain the posting for a period of six years.  This communication is public information and must be disclosed in accordance with Chapter 552.(e)  The governmental body may not vote or take any action that is required to be taken at a meeting under this chapter of the governmental body by posting a communication to the online message board or similar Internet application.  In no event shall a communication or posting to the online message board or similar Internet application be construed to be an action of the governmental body.|Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 2414), Sec. 3, eff. June 14, 2013.Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201 (S.B. 1297), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.007 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 551.007. Public Testimony

Sec. 551.007.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY.  (a)  This section applies only to a governmental body described by Sections 551.001(3)(B)-(L).(b)  A governmental body shall allow each member of the public who desires to address the body regarding an item on an agenda for an open meeting of the body to address the body regarding the item at the meeting before or during the body's consideration of the item.(c)  A governmental body may adopt reasonable rules regarding the public's right to address the body under this section, including rules that limit the total amount of time that a member of the public may address the body on a given item.(d)  This subsection applies only if a governmental body does not use simultaneous translation equipment in a manner that allows the body to hear the translated public testimony simultaneously.  A rule adopted under Subsection (c) that limits the amount of time that a member of the public may address the governmental body must provide that a member of the public who addresses the body through a translator must be given at least twice the amount of time as a member of the public who does not require the assistance of a translator in order to ensure that non-English speakers receive the same opportunity to address the body.(e)  A governmental body may not prohibit public criticism of the governmental body, including criticism of any act, omission, policy, procedure, program, or service. This subsection does not apply to public criticism that is otherwise prohibited by law.|Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 2840), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Govt Code § 551.021 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter B. Record of Open Meeting|Section 551.021. Minutes or Recording of Open Meeting Required

Sec. 551.021.  MINUTES OR RECORDING OF OPEN MEETING REQUIRED.  (a)  A governmental body shall prepare and keep minutes or make a recording of each open meeting of the body.(b)  The minutes must:(1)  state the subject of each deliberation;  and(2)  indicate each vote, order, decision, or other action taken.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 2, eff. May 18, 2013.Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 3, eff. May 18, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.022 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter B. Record of Open Meeting|Section 551.022. Minutes and Recordings of Open Meeting: Public Record

Sec. 551.022.  MINUTES AND RECORDINGS OF OPEN MEETING:  PUBLIC RECORD.  The minutes and recordings of an open meeting are public records and shall be available for public inspection and copying on request to the governmental body's chief administrative officer or the officer's designee.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 4, eff. May 18, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.023 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter B. Record of Open Meeting|Section 551.023. Recording of Meeting by Person in Attendance

Sec. 551.023.  RECORDING OF MEETING BY PERSON IN ATTENDANCE.  (a)  A person in attendance may record all or any part of an open meeting of a governmental body by means of a recorder, video camera, or other means of aural or visual reproduction.(b)  A governmental body may adopt reasonable rules to maintain order at a meeting, including rules relating to:(1)  the location of recording equipment;  and(2)  the manner in which the recording is conducted.(c)  A rule adopted under Subsection (b) may not prevent or unreasonably impair a person from exercising a right granted under Subsection (a).|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 471), Sec. 5, eff. May 18, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.041 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.041. Notice of Meeting Required

Sec. 551.041.  NOTICE OF MEETING REQUIRED.  A governmental body shall give written notice of the date, hour, place, and subject of each meeting held by the governmental body.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 551.0411 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.0411. Meeting Notice Requirements in Certain Circumstances

Sec. 551.0411.  MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.  (a)  Section 551.041 does not require a governmental body that recesses an open meeting to the following regular business day to post notice of the continued meeting if the action is taken in good faith and not to circumvent this chapter.  If an open meeting is continued to the following regular business day and, on that following day, the governmental body continues the meeting to another day, the governmental body must give written notice as required by this subchapter of the meeting continued to that other day.(b)  A governmental body that is prevented from convening an open meeting that was otherwise properly posted under Section 551.041 because of a catastrophe may convene the meeting in a convenient location within 72 hours pursuant to Section 551.045 if the action is taken in good faith and not to circumvent this chapter.  If the governmental body is unable to convene the open meeting within those 72 hours, the governmental body may subsequently convene the meeting only if the governmental body gives written notice of the meeting as required by this subchapter.(c)  In this section, "catastrophe" means a condition or occurrence that interferes physically with the ability of a governmental body to conduct a meeting, including:(1)  fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, or wind, rain, or snow storm;(2)  power failure, transportation failure, or interruption of communication facilities;(3)  epidemic; or(4)  riot, civil disturbance, enemy attack, or other actual or threatened act of lawlessness or violence.|Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 325 (S.B. 690), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.|
TX Govt Code § 551.0415 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.0415. Governing Body of Municipality or County: Reports About Items of Community Interest Regarding Which No Action Will Be Taken

Sec. 551.0415.  GOVERNING BODY OF MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY:  REPORTS ABOUT ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST REGARDING WHICH NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.  (a)  Notwithstanding Sections 551.041 and 551.042, a quorum of the governing body of a municipality or county may receive from staff of the political subdivision and a member of the governing body may make a report about items of community interest during a meeting of the governing body without having given notice of the subject of the report as required by this subchapter if no action is taken and, except as provided by Section 551.042, possible action is not discussed regarding the information provided in the report.(b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), "items of community interest" includes:(1)  expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence;(2)  information regarding holiday schedules;(3)  an honorary or salutary recognition of a public official, public employee, or other citizen, except that a discussion regarding a change in the status of a person's public office or public employment is not an honorary or salutary recognition for purposes of this subdivision;(4)  a reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by the governing body;(5)  information regarding a social, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body or an official or employee of the political subdivision; and(6)  announcements involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety of people in the political subdivision that has arisen after the posting of the agenda.|Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1377 (S.B. 1182), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1007 (H.B. 2313), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1341 (S.B. 1233), Sec. 14, eff. June 17, 2011.Reenacted and amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 9.013, eff. September 1, 2013.|
TX Govt Code § 551.042 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.042. Inquiry Made at Meeting

Sec. 551.042.  INQUIRY MADE AT MEETING.  (a)  If, at a meeting of a governmental body, a member of the public or of the governmental body inquires about a subject for which notice has not been given as required by this subchapter, the notice provisions of this subchapter do not apply to:(1)  a statement of specific factual information given in response to the inquiry;  or(2)  a recitation of existing policy in response to the inquiry.(b)  Any deliberation of or decision about the subject of the inquiry shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on the agenda for a subsequent meeting.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|
TX Govt Code § 551.043 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.043. Time and Accessibility of Notice; General Rule

Sec. 551.043.  TIME AND ACCESSIBILITY OF NOTICE; GENERAL RULE.  (a)  The notice of a meeting of a governmental body must be posted in a place readily accessible to the general public at all times for at least 72 hours before the scheduled time of the meeting, except as provided by Sections 551.044-551.046.(b)  If this chapter specifically requires or allows a governmental body to post notice of a meeting on the Internet:(1)  the governmental body satisfies the requirement that the notice must be posted in a place readily accessible to the general public at all times by making a good-faith attempt to continuously post the notice on the Internet during the prescribed period;(2)  the governmental body must still comply with any duty imposed by this chapter to physically post the notice at a particular location; and(3)  if the governmental body makes a good-faith attempt to continuously post the notice on the Internet during the prescribed period, the notice physically posted at the location prescribed by this chapter must be readily accessible to the general public during normal business hours.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 624 (H.B. 2381), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.|
TX Govt Code § 551.044 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.044. Exception to General Rule: Governmental Body With Statewide Jurisdiction

Sec. 551.044.  EXCEPTION TO GENERAL RULE:  GOVERNMENTAL BODY WITH STATEWIDE JURISDICTION.  (a)  The secretary of state must post notice on the Internet of a meeting of a state board, commission, department, or officer having statewide jurisdiction for at least seven days before the day of the meeting.  The secretary of state shall provide during regular office hours a computer terminal at a place convenient to the public in the office of the secretary of state that members of the public may use to view notices of meetings posted by the secretary of state.(b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to:(1)  the Texas Department of Insurance, as regards proceedings and activities under Title 5, Labor Code, of the department, the commissioner of insurance, or the commissioner of workers' compensation; or(2)  the governing board of an institution of higher education.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 622, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 6.006, eff. September 1, 2005.|
TX Govt Code § 551.045 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.045. Exception to General Rule: Notice of Emergency Meeting or Emergency Addition to Agenda

Sec. 551.045.  EXCEPTION TO GENERAL RULE:  NOTICE OF EMERGENCY MEETING OR EMERGENCY ADDITION TO AGENDA.  (a)  In an emergency or when there is an urgent public necessity, the notice of a meeting to deliberate or take action on the emergency or urgent public necessity, or the supplemental notice to add the deliberation or taking of action on the emergency or urgent public necessity as an item to the agenda for a meeting for which notice has been posted in accordance with this subchapter, is sufficient if the notice or supplemental notice is posted for at least one hour before the meeting is convened.(a-1)  A governmental body may not deliberate or take action on a matter at a meeting for which notice or supplemental notice is posted under Subsection (a) other than:(1)  a matter directly related to responding to the emergency or urgent public necessity identified in the notice or supplemental notice of the meeting as provided by Subsection (c); or(2)  an agenda item listed on a notice of the meeting before the supplemental notice was posted.(b)  An emergency or an urgent public necessity exists only if immediate action is required of a governmental body because of:(1)  an imminent threat to public health and safety, including a threat described by Subdivision (2) if imminent; or(2)  a reasonably unforeseeable situation, including:(A)  fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, or wind, rain, or snow storm;(B)  power failure, transportation failure, or interruption of communication facilities;(C)  epidemic; or(D)  riot, civil disturbance, enemy attack, or other actual or threatened act of lawlessness or violence.(c)  The governmental body shall clearly identify the emergency or urgent public necessity in the notice or supplemental notice under this section.(d)  A person who is designated or authorized to post notice of a meeting by a governmental body under this subchapter shall post the notice taking at face value the governmental body's stated reason for the emergency or urgent public necessity.(e)  For purposes of Subsection (b)(2), the sudden relocation of a large number of residents from the area of a declared disaster to a governmental body's jurisdiction is considered a reasonably unforeseeable situation for a reasonable period immediately following the relocation. |Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (S.B. 11), Sec. 3.06, eff. September 1, 2007.Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1325 (S.B. 1499), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 462 (S.B. 494), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Govt Code § 551.046 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Government Code|Title 5 - Open Government; Ethics|Subtitle A - Open Government|Chapter 551 - Open Meetings|Subchapter C. Notice of Meetings|Section 551.046. Exception to General Rule: Committee of Legislature

Sec. 551.046.  EXCEPTION TO GENERAL RULE:  COMMITTEE OF LEGISLATURE.  The notice of a legislative committee meeting shall be as provided by the rules of the house of representatives or of the senate.|Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.|