By: Canales, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 2840
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2019;
  May 10, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Business &
  Commerce; May 20, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 20, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the right of a member of the public to address the
  governing body of a political subdivision at an open meeting of the
  body.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 551.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 551.007.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY. (a)  This section applies
  only to a governmental body described by Sections
  551.001(3)(B)-(L).
         (b)  A governmental body shall allow each member of the
  public who desires to address the body regarding an item on an
  agenda for an open meeting of the body to address the body regarding
  the item at the meeting before or during the body's consideration of
  the item.
         (c)  A governmental body may adopt reasonable rules
  regarding the public's right to address the body under this
  section, including rules that limit the total amount of time that a
  member of the public may address the body on a given item.
         (d)  This subsection applies only if a governmental body does
  not use simultaneous translation equipment in a manner that allows
  the body to hear the translated public testimony simultaneously.  A
  rule adopted under Subsection (c) that limits the amount of time
  that a member of the public may address the governmental body must
  provide that a member of the public who addresses the body through a
  translator must be given at least twice the amount of time as a
  member of the public who does not require the assistance of a
  translator in order to ensure that non-English speakers receive the
  same opportunity to address the body.
         (e)  A governmental body may not prohibit public criticism of
  the governmental body, including criticism of any act, omission,
  policy, procedure, program, or service. This subsection does not
  apply to public criticism that is otherwise prohibited by law.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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