By: Paul, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.B. No. 305

(In the Senate - Received from the House March 25, 2019; March 27, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce; May 14, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 14, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 305 By: Nichols

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the requirement that certain political subdivisions with authority to impose a tax post certain information on an Internet website.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter E to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER E. INTERNET WEBSITE

Sec. 2051.151. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. Except as provided by Section 2051.152(b), this subchapter applies only to a political subdivision with the authority to impose a tax that at any time on or after January 1, 2019, maintained a publicly accessible Internet website.

Sec. 2051.152. INFORMATION REQUIRED ON WEBSITE. (a) A political subdivision to which this section applies shall post on a publicly accessible Internet website the following information:

(1) the political subdivision's contact information, including a mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address;

(2) each elected officer of the political subdivision;

(3) the date and location of the next election for officers of the political subdivision;

(4) the requirements and deadline for filing for candidacy of each elected office of the political subdivision, which shall be continuously posted for at least one year before the election day for the office;

(5) each notice of a meeting of the political subdivision's governing body under Subchapter C, Chapter 551; and

(6) each record of a meeting of the political subdivision's governing body under Section 551.021.

(b) Subsections (a)(5) and (6) do not apply to:

(1) a county with a population of less than 10,000;

(2) a municipality with a population of less than 5,000 located in a county with a population of less than 25,000; or

(3) a school district with a population of less than 5,000 in the district's boundaries and located in a county with a population of less than 25,000.

SECTION 2. Sections 2051.152(a)(5) and (6), Government Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a meeting held on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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