BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1569

By: King

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that recent controversies on university campuses have led to increased targeting of higher education officials, including members of governing boards, chancellors, and university presidents and that on several occasions, these officials' personal information was shared on social media, resulting in disruptive protests at their residences. The bill sponsor also informed the committee that these incidents have raised concerns about the safety and privacy of university leaders and their families, highlighting the need for legislative action to protect them from harassment and potential threats. S.B. 1569 seeks to address this issue by excepting certain personal information of key officials in Texas higher education from public disclosure under state public information law. The bill aims to safeguard university leaders from intimidation while allowing them to perform their duties without fear of personal targeting.

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

S.B. 1569 amends the Government Code to except from the public availability requirement of state public information law information that relates to the home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, or social security number of the following persons or that reveals whether such a person has family members:

· a member of the governing board of a public, private, or independent institution of higher education;

· the president or other chief executive officer of such an institution of higher education; and

· the chancellor or other chief executive officer of a university system, as defined by the Higher Education Coordinating Act of 1965.

The bill also makes state public information law provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain personal identifying information of peace officers and certain other officials performing sensitive governmental functions applicable to the aforementioned persons.

S.B. 1569 amends the Tax Code to make statutory provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in local appraisal records applicable to the aforementioned persons.

S.B. 1569 establishes that, to the extent of any conflict, its provisions prevail over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. The bill's provisions apply only to a request for information that is received by a governmental body or an officer on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.