HB1442 - Relating to the Internet broadcast or recording of certain open meetings.

  89R21016 MCK-D     By: Howard, Bhojani, Capriglione H.B. No. 1442       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the Internet broadcast or recording of certain open   meetings.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 551, Government Code, is   amended by adding Sections 551.024 and 551.025 to read as follows:           Sec.   551.024.     INTERNET BROADCAST AND ARCHIVE OF OPEN   MEETINGS. (a) This section applies only to a governmental body   that is an agency within the executive branch of state government:                 (1)     to which the total appropriation made in the   General Appropriations Act from general revenue as specified in the   method of financing for any fiscal year beginning on or after   September 1, 2025, including any amount of general revenue   transferred to the governmental body under that Act for that fiscal   year, is greater than $10 million; and                 (2)     for which the bill pattern for the General   Appropriations Act for the same fiscal year designates 100 or more   full-time equivalent positions.           (b)     A governmental body that becomes subject to this section   under Subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall comply with this   section in each following fiscal year.           (c)     A governmental body subject to this section shall   broadcast over the Internet live video and audio of each open   meeting of the governmental body. The governmental body shall   provide access to the broadcast on the governmental body's Internet   website.           (d)     Not later than the seventh day after the date an open   meeting is broadcast under this section, the governmental body   shall make available through the governmental body's Internet   website archived video and audio of the open meeting.   The   governmental body shall maintain the archived video and audio of   the open meeting on the governmental body's Internet website until   the second anniversary of the date the archived video and audio was   first made available on the website.           (e)     The governmental body shall provide on the governmental   body's Internet website the same notice of the open meeting that the   governmental body is required to post under Subchapter C. The   notice must be posted on the governmental body's Internet website   within the time required for posting notice under Subchapter C.           (f)     The governmental body may use for an Internet broadcast   of an open meeting of the governmental body a room made available to   the governmental body on request in any state building, as defined   by Section 2165.301.           (g)     The governmental body is exempt from the requirements of   this section to the extent a catastrophe, as defined by Section   551.0411, or a technical breakdown prevents the governmental body   from complying with this section. Following the catastrophe or   technical breakdown, the governmental body shall make all   reasonable efforts to make the required video and audio of the open   meeting available in a timely manner.           (h)     The governmental body shall consider contracting   through competitive bidding with a private individual or entity to   broadcast and archive an open meeting subject to this section to   minimize the cost of complying with this section.           Sec.   551.025.     INTERNET ACCESS TO RECORDING OF OPEN MEETING.   (a) This section applies only to a governmental body that is an   agency within:                 (1)  the legislative branch of the state government; or                 (2)     the executive branch of the state government to   which Section 551.024 does not apply.           (b)     Not later than the seventh day after the date an open   meeting is held, a governmental body subject to this section shall   make available through the governmental body's Internet website or   a social media account associated with the governmental body:                 (1)  an audio recording of the open meeting; or                 (2)  a video and audio recording of the open meeting.           (c)     The governmental body shall provide on the governmental   body's Internet website or a social media account associated with   the governmental body the same notice of the open meeting that the   governmental body is required to post under Subchapter C. The   notice must be posted on the governmental body's Internet website   or a social media account associated with the governmental body   within the time required for posting notice under Subchapter C.           (d)     The governmental body is exempt from the requirements of   this section to the extent a catastrophe, as defined by Section   551.0411, or a technical breakdown prevents the governmental body   from complying with this section. Following the catastrophe or   technical breakdown, the governmental body shall make all   reasonable efforts to make the required recording of the open   meeting available in a timely manner.           (e)     Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this section does not   apply to a commodity producers board created under Chapter 41,   Agriculture Code.   This subsection expires September 1, 2030.          SECTION 2.  Sections 551.024 and 551.025, Government Code,   as added by this Act, apply only to an open meeting held on or after   September 1, 2027.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.