BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3440

By: Canales

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, governmental entities above a certain size that maintain a website must post their meeting agendas online. As more Texans obtain quality Internet access, they increasingly seek to interact with their local governments through the Internet. H.B. 3440 seeks to give more Texans access to the agendas of their local government through the Internet.

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

H.B. 3440 amends the Government Code to establish that the following governmental bodies and economic development corporations are required to post a meeting agenda concurrently on the entity's website in addition to any other places at which the agenda must be posted, regardless of population:

· a municipality;

· a county;

· a public school district;

· the governing body of a junior college or junior college district, including a district that has changed its name;

· an economic development corporation organized under the Development Corporation Act; and

· a joint board created under provisions related to county and municipal airports.

The bill applies only to an open meeting held on or after the bill's effective date.

H.B. 3440 repeals Section 551.056(c), Government Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.