86R15395 TJB-D
By: Canales, Guerra, Guillen, Raymond H.B. No. 2840
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the right of a member of the public to address the
governing body of a political subdivision at an open meeting of the
body.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 551.007 to read as follows:
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.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.