Most new Texas laws in effect this month: Here’s a list of significant bills affecting newspaper industry

EDITOR’S NOTE: Most bills that passed during the regular session of the 89th Texas Legislature have gone into effect as of Sept. 1.

Listed as positive or negative to newspapers, here are new laws of interest to our industry, along with names of the authors.

POSITIVE:

SB 1062 Kolkhorst/Smithee, (TPA bill): Allows political subdivisions located in counties that no longer have a newspaper, as defined in Government Code 2051.044, to publish public notices in a digital newspaper. It outlines requirements that a digital newspaper must meet to qualify for publication of notices. The digital requirements track those for a general circulation print newspaper notice except that they do not require print. Continued revenue from notices could help struggling newspapers hang on financially if they find it necessary to eliminate print editions for financial reasons.

HB 3526, Capriglione: Mandates fiscal transparency for local government bonds by requiring the development of a public, searchable database with bond details and a biennial report on each bond’s repayment status. It requires the inclusion of principal, interest estimates, and tax rate changes for bond repayments, aiming for enhanced public accessibility and accountability, 

HB 3711, Capriglione: Enhances the investigation and prosecution of open meetings offenses committed by county officers, municipal officers and school district board members, by categorizing them as offenses against public administration.

HB 4219, Capriglione: Required response. When no information is available or is subject to a prior determination to 

withhold, governmental bodies must notify the requestor in writing within 10 business days. The bill adds provisions for complaints to the attorney general if the response is inadequate. If validated, the governmental body must undergo training and produce the information without cost to the requestor. The government body must seek an attorney general decision within five business days if officials wish to withhold information.

SB 293 Huffman: Amends Texas Government Code to enhance judicial accountability, including defining misconduct, updating complaint procedures, and imposing administrative penalties for false complaints. It mandates reporting for judicial transparency.

SB 413 Middleton: Improves transparency and accountability by requiring minutes of school board meetings to be posted online and to include each member’s votes.

HB 1522 Gerdes: Improves transparency by requiring notice of budget meeting to include a physical copy of the budget. Extends meeting notice from 72 hours to three business days. 

HB 1893 Cooke: Allows disclosure of license plate numbers captured in law enforcement video recordings without requiring redaction.

HB 4214 Curry: Amends Government Code to require governmental bodies subject to public information laws to annually notify the attorney general of their designated addresses for receiving public information requests. Additionally, it mandates the attorney general to maintain a public database of these addresses on its website.

NEGATIVE

HB 1261 Cunningham:  Amends newspaper notice requirement for seized property auctions conducted by law enforcement, making newspapers one of two options by adding: “or placed once on the Internet website and social networking website of the law enforcement agency that seized the property at least 14 days before the date of the sale.”

HB 3928 Thompson: Allows public notice of the sale of a towed vehicle for unpaid towing fees to be published on a third-party Internet website as an alternative to newspaper publication.