BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3516 By: Dyson Energy Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) employs administrative law judges and technical examiners to adjudicate contested cases on matters regulated by the RRC. The RRC reports that, while those RRC employees' function is similar to that of the employees of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), the potentially sensitive information created and maintained by those RRC employees is not protected from disclosure under the public information law to the same extent as similar SOAH information. The bill author has informed the committee that this lack of protection inhibits the RRC's performance of its contested case function due to a concern for public disclosure of sensitive information. H.B. 3516 seeks to remedy this issue by excepting from disclosure under the public information law certain information maintained by the RRC. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 3516 amends the Government Code to extend the applicability of the exception of certain specified working papers and electronic communications of an administrative law judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings from the public availability requirement of state public information law to such working papers and electronic communications of a technical examiner or administrative law judge at the Railroad Commission of Texas. H.B. 3516 applies only to a request for public information received by a governmental body or an officer for public information on or after the bill's effective date. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3516
By: Dyson
Energy Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 3516
By: Dyson
Energy Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) employs administrative law judges and technical examiners to adjudicate contested cases on matters regulated by the RRC. The RRC reports that, while those RRC employees' function is similar to that of the employees of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), the potentially sensitive information created and maintained by those RRC employees is not protected from disclosure under the public information law to the same extent as similar SOAH information. The bill author has informed the committee that this lack of protection inhibits the RRC's performance of its contested case function due to a concern for public disclosure of sensitive information. H.B. 3516 seeks to remedy this issue by excepting from disclosure under the public information law certain information maintained by the RRC.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 3516 amends the Government Code to extend the applicability of the exception of certain specified working papers and electronic communications of an administrative law judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings from the public availability requirement of state public information law to such working papers and electronic communications of a technical examiner or administrative law judge at the Railroad Commission of Texas. H.B. 3516 applies only to a request for public information received by a governmental body or an officer for public information on or after the bill's effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) employs administrative law judges and technical examiners to adjudicate contested cases on matters regulated by the RRC. The RRC reports that, while those RRC employees' function is similar to that of the employees of the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), the potentially sensitive information created and maintained by those RRC employees is not protected from disclosure under the public information law to the same extent as similar SOAH information. The bill author has informed the committee that this lack of protection inhibits the RRC's performance of its contested case function due to a concern for public disclosure of sensitive information. H.B. 3516 seeks to remedy this issue by excepting from disclosure under the public information law certain information maintained by the RRC.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 3516 amends the Government Code to extend the applicability of the exception of certain specified working papers and electronic communications of an administrative law judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings from the public availability requirement of state public information law to such working papers and electronic communications of a technical examiner or administrative law judge at the Railroad Commission of Texas.
H.B. 3516 applies only to a request for public information received by a governmental body or an officer for public information on or after the bill's effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.