BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1706 By: Hinojosa, Adam Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current state open meetings law allows certain governmental entities to meet in closed sessions to discuss certain sensitive government issues. However, the bill sponsor has informed the committee that when discussions regarding defense, military, or aerospace issues are necessary, exemptions are also needed for entities not explicitly given this authority and that this lack of protection could allow other states or interested parties to gain valuable insight into this state's deliberations, potentially losing Texas' competitive edge over other states that allow these matters to be discussed in private. S.B. 1706 seeks to resolve this issue and preserve and propel the state's economic interests by allowing a certain board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government to meet in a closed session to deliberate a defense, military, or aerospace issue, and by narrowing allowable matters to those involving the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and contract requirements with those entities. 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 S.B. 1706 amends the Government Code to authorize the governing board of a board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government that is directed by one or more elected or appointed members to conduct a closed meeting to deliberate a defense, military, or aerospace issue, defined by the bill as a matter related to the following: the establishment of an office, base, or major facility in Texas by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); or an economic incentive a governmental body may offer to a private entity or nonprofit organization to meet a match requirement or other requirement established by the DOD or NASA in relation to grants or strategic endeavors. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 1706
By: Hinojosa, Adam
Delivery of Government Efficiency
Committee Report (Unamended)
S.B. 1706
By: Hinojosa, Adam
Delivery of Government Efficiency
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current state open meetings law allows certain governmental entities to meet in closed sessions to discuss certain sensitive government issues. However, the bill sponsor has informed the committee that when discussions regarding defense, military, or aerospace issues are necessary, exemptions are also needed for entities not explicitly given this authority and that this lack of protection could allow other states or interested parties to gain valuable insight into this state's deliberations, potentially losing Texas' competitive edge over other states that allow these matters to be discussed in private. S.B. 1706 seeks to resolve this issue and preserve and propel the state's economic interests by allowing a certain board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government to meet in a closed session to deliberate a defense, military, or aerospace issue, and by narrowing allowable matters to those involving the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and contract requirements with those entities.
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 S.B. 1706 amends the Government Code to authorize the governing board of a board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government that is directed by one or more elected or appointed members to conduct a closed meeting to deliberate a defense, military, or aerospace issue, defined by the bill as a matter related to the following: the establishment of an office, base, or major facility in Texas by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); or an economic incentive a governmental body may offer to a private entity or nonprofit organization to meet a match requirement or other requirement established by the DOD or NASA in relation to grants or strategic endeavors.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current state open meetings law allows certain governmental entities to meet in closed sessions to discuss certain sensitive government issues. However, the bill sponsor has informed the committee that when discussions regarding defense, military, or aerospace issues are necessary, exemptions are also needed for entities not explicitly given this authority and that this lack of protection could allow other states or interested parties to gain valuable insight into this state's deliberations, potentially losing Texas' competitive edge over other states that allow these matters to be discussed in private. S.B. 1706 seeks to resolve this issue and preserve and propel the state's economic interests by allowing a certain board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government to meet in a closed session to deliberate a defense, military, or aerospace issue, and by narrowing allowable matters to those involving the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and contract requirements with those entities.
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
S.B. 1706 amends the Government Code to authorize the governing board of a board, commission, department, committee, or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state government that is directed by one or more elected or appointed members to conduct a closed meeting to deliberate a defense, military, or aerospace issue, defined by the bill as a matter related to the following:
the establishment of an office, base, or major facility in Texas by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); or
an economic incentive a governmental body may offer to a private entity or nonprofit organization to meet a match requirement or other requirement established by the DOD or NASA in relation to grants or strategic endeavors.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.