| 2 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | relating to the modernization of state agency systems, including |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | the improvement of online access to services and the reduction of |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | paperwork requirements. |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 2054, Government Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | adding Subchapter S to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | SUBCHAPTER S. STATE AGENCY WEBSITE MODERNIZATION AND DIGITAL |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | ACCESSIBILITY |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | Sec. 2054.701. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | (1) "Agency" means a state agency as defined by Section |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | 2054.003. |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | (2) "User-centered design" means a design approach focused |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | on optimizing the user experience by improving website navigation, |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | accessibility, and responsiveness. |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | Sec. 2054.702. WEBSITE MODERNIZATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | Each agency shall assess its website and online service portals to |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | identify areas for improved user accessibility, navigation, and |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | digital service efficiency. |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | (b) An agency shall implement updates to: |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | (1) simplify the process for users to access forms, |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | applications, and agency services; |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | (2) remove unnecessary paperwork requirements where |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | digital alternatives exist; |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | (3) ensure compliance with accessibility standards |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | under Section 2054.460; |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | (4) improve website responsiveness for mobile and |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | desktop users; |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | (5) adopt best practices for search functionality, |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | page load speed, and service integration. |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | (c) The Department of Information Resources shall develop |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | statewide guidance for agencies to standardize modernization |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | efforts and ensure inter-agency consistency. |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | Sec. 2054.703. REDUCTION OF PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS. (a) An |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | agency shall review its existing forms, applications, and public |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | filing requirements to identify: |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | (1) paperwork requirements that can be eliminated or |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | replaced with digital submissions; |
|---|
| 43 | 45 | | (2) processes that can be automated to reduce manual |
|---|
| 44 | 46 | | data entry by users; |
|---|
| 45 | 47 | | (3) alternative means to verify information without |
|---|
| 46 | 48 | | requiring duplicative documentation from the user. |
|---|
| 47 | 49 | | (b) Each agency shall submit a report to the Legislative |
|---|
| 48 | 50 | | Budget Board and the governor's office by December 1 of each |
|---|
| 49 | 51 | | even-numbered year detailing the steps taken to modernize agency |
|---|
| 50 | 52 | | processes and reduce paperwork. |
|---|
| 51 | 53 | | Sec. 2054.704. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND BEST |
|---|
| 52 | 54 | | PRACTICES. (a) The Department of Information Resources shall: |
|---|
| 53 | 55 | | (1) provide technical assistance to agencies to |
|---|
| 54 | 56 | | implement website improvements and digital service upgrades; |
|---|
| 55 | 57 | | (2) establish guidelines for user-centered design |
|---|
| 56 | 58 | | that prioritize ease of navigation, multilingual access, and |
|---|
| 57 | 59 | | mobile-friendly design; |
|---|
| 58 | 60 | | (3) coordinate a working group of agency technology |
|---|
| 59 | 61 | | officers to share best practices and address modernization |
|---|
| 60 | 62 | | challenges. |
|---|
| 61 | 63 | | (b) The State Auditor's Office shall review agency |
|---|
| 62 | 64 | | compliance with modernization requirements as part of routine |
|---|
| 63 | 65 | | audits. |
|---|
| 64 | 66 | | Sec. 2054.705. DEADLINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION. (a) Not later |
|---|
| 65 | 67 | | than September 1, 2026, each agency shall: |
|---|
| 66 | 68 | | (1) complete an internal assessment of its website and |
|---|
| 67 | 69 | | digital service offerings; |
|---|
| 68 | 70 | | (2) submit a modernization plan to the Department of |
|---|
| 69 | 71 | | Information Resources outlining proposed improvements and a |
|---|
| 70 | 72 | | timeline for completion. |
|---|
| 71 | 73 | | (b) The Department of Information Resources shall submit a |
|---|
| 72 | 74 | | summary report to the legislature by March 1, 2027, detailing |
|---|
| 73 | 75 | | statewide progress on agency modernization efforts. |
|---|
| 74 | 76 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|