Honorable Dade Phelan, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3457 by Smithee (relating to the assessment of costs of litigation and reasonable attorney fees in certain lawsuits under the public information law.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to establish a standard for substantially prevailing of a provision which authorizes the award of litigation costs and attorney's fees to a plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking mandamus or declaratory judgment against a governmental body for violating the Texas Public Information Act.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished using existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council