BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1910

 

By: Bettencourt

 

State Affairs

 

3/21/2023

 

As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, a number of election offices appear to be using the litigation exception to the Texas Public Information Act to not produce or delay the production of documents that are election records. 

 

S.B. 1910 would not allow information related to a general, primary, or special election to be excepted from production under the exception of litigation under the Texas Public Information Act. 

 

As proposed, S.B. 1910 amends current law relating to access to certain election records under the public information law.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 552.103, Government Code, by adding Subsection (d), as follows:

 

(d) Provides that Section 552.103 (Exception: Litigation or Settlement Negotiations Involving the State or a Political Subdivision) does not except from the requirements of Section 552.021 (Availability of Public Information) information related to a general, primary, or special election, as those terms are defined by Section 1.005 (Definitions), Election Code.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.