Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1080 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Curry H.B. No. 1080
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6	6	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
7	7	AN ACT
8	8	relating to the publication of required notice by a political
9	9	subdivision by alternative media.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by
12	12	adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:
13	13	SUBCHAPTER C-1. NOTICE BY PUBLICATION IN MEDIA OTHER THAN
14	14	NEWSPAPER
15	15	Sec. 2051.081. NOTICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEDIA. (a) A
16	16	political subdivision may satisfy a requirement in any other law to
17	17	provide notice by publication in a newspaper by publishing the
18	18	notice:
19	19	(1) by media described by Subsection (c) that the
20	20	political subdivision determines has greater circulation than the
21	21	newspaper with the greatest circulation in the political
22	22	subdivision; and
23	23	(2) on the Internet websites maintained by:
24	24	(A) the political subdivision; and
25	25	(B) the comptroller.
26	26	(b) Before providing notice by an alternative method under
27	27	Subsection (a), a political subdivision must hold a public meeting
28	28	about the alternative notice method. During the meeting, the
29	29	political subdivision must demonstrate that the circulation of the
30	30	alternative media will be greater than the circulation of the
31	31	newspaper with the greatest circulation in the political
32	32	subdivision.
33	33	(c) The following forms of media are authorized for
34	34	providing notice under Subsection (a)(1):
35	35	(1) social media;
36	36	(2) free newspapers;
37	37	(3) school newspapers;
38	38	(4) a homeowners' association newsletter or magazine;
39	39	(5) utility bills;
40	40	(6) direct mailings; and
41	41	(7) any other form of media authorized by the
42	42	comptroller.
43	43	(d) A political subdivision that provides notice using
44	44	alternative media under this section shall submit notice to the
45	45	comptroller describing the alternative notice method that
46	46	includes:
47	47	(1) the number of subscribers within the political
48	48	subdivision of the newspaper with the greatest circulation in the
49	49	political subdivision;
50	50	(2) a description of the alternative media used for
51	51	the notice; and
52	52	(3) the circulation of the alternative media used for
53	53	the notice.
54	54	(e) After receipt of the notice under Subsection (d), the
55	55	comptroller shall promptly publish on the comptroller's Internet
56	56	website notice as described by Subsection (a)(2), unless the
57	57	comptroller requires notice by newspaper under Subsection (f) or
58	58	waives the requirement under Subsection (g).
59	59	(f) The comptroller may require a political subdivision to
60	60	provide notice by newspaper if the comptroller:
61	61	(1) determines the alternative media used by the
62	62	political subdivision to provide notice under Subsection (a) does
63	63	not have a greater circulation than the newspaper with the greatest
64	64	circulation in the political subdivision; and
65	65	(2) provides written notice to the political
66	66	subdivision of the comptroller's determination under Subdivision
67	67	(1).
68	68	(g) A political subdivision may request from the
69	69	comptroller, and the comptroller may grant, a waiver from the
70	70	requirements of Subsection (a)(2) if the political subdivision
71	71	provides sufficient proof that Internet access is limited in the
72	72	political subdivision. If the comptroller grants the waiver, the
73	73	political subdivision must provide additional notice on a public
74	74	agenda board within the political subdivision.
75	75	(h) Notice published under Subsection (a)(2) must be made
76	76	available for the period of time required by law for which the
77	77	publication of the notice is required in a newspaper.
78	78	Sec. 2051.0815. COMPTROLLER ALTERNATIVE NOTICE REPORT. (a)
79	79	The comptroller shall prepare a report that identifies and compares
80	80	the effectiveness of different methods of notice publication used
81	81	by political subdivisions. The report must include all types of
82	82	notice that are used under this chapter and laws that require the
83	83	publication of a notice in a newspaper by a political subdivision.
84	84	(b) Not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year,
85	85	the comptroller shall submit the report described by Subsection (a)
86	86	to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
87	87	representatives.
88	88	(c) This section expires January 1, 2029.
89	89	Sec. 2051.082. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The comptroller may
90	90	adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter.
91	91	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.