Texas Senate Bill SB1906

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/29/11
• Refer: 4/18/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/10/11
• Report Pass: 4/29/11
• Out of House Committee: 5/17/11
• Engrossed: 5/10/11
• Refer: 5/11/11
• Report Pass: 5/16/11
• Introduced: 5/17/11

Caption

Relating to certain notice requirements for municipalities and counties under the open meetings law.

Impact

The modifications introduced by SB1906 are significant in easing certain procedural requirements for local governing bodies, enabling them to report on community interest items more freely. This is expected to improve the responsiveness and engagement between local government officials and their constituents. As a result, municipalities may benefit from enhanced communication on important local matters without the burdens of strict notice requirements.

Summary

SB1906 is a legislative act that amends the Texas Government Code concerning notice requirements for municipalities and counties under the open meetings law. The bill specifically modifies how local governing bodies can manage reports about items of community interest without prior notice, provided that no official action is taken during the discussion. This aims to facilitate communication within local governments while still adhering to transparency principles outlined in the open meetings law.

Contention

While the bill aims to simplify communication processes, there may be concerns regarding the potential for reduced transparency. Critics of the bill could argue that allowing reports without notice might lead to situations where important public discussions occur without adequate public awareness. This could adversely affect the accountability of local authorities, as constituents might remain uninformed about key issues addressed in these no-action reports.