HB5382 - Relating to the establishment and use of a written electronic communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal entities.

  89R4684 GP-D     By: Bucy H.B. No. 5382       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment and use of a written electronic   communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal   entities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 551.006(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)   Except as provided by Section 551.0061, a [ A ]   governmental body may have no more than one online message board or   similar Internet application to be used for the purposes described   in Subsection (a). The online message board or similar Internet   application must be owned or controlled by the governmental body,   prominently displayed on the governmental body's primary Internet   web page, and no more than one click away from the governmental   body's primary Internet web page.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 551.0061 to read as follows:           Sec.   551.0061.     WRITTEN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS   ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL ENTITIES. (a) The   governing body of a municipality by ordinance or resolution may   authorize a commission or other entity organized under Subchapter   A, Chapter 211, Local Government Code, to establish and use an   online message board or similar Internet application for the   purposes described in Section 551.006(a).           (b)     A governing body adopting an ordinance or resolution   under this section may authorize use of the online message board or   similar Internet application for a period of not longer than two   years, and may reauthorize use of the message board or application   in the same manner and for the same period as many times as the   governing body determines is appropriate. The governing body may   rescind an ordinance or resolution adopted under this section at   any time.             (c)     An online message board or similar Internet application   authorized by this section is separate from and in addition to a   municipal online message board or similar Internet application   authorized by Section 551.006.           (d)     The use and administration of an online message board or   similar Internet application authorized by this section must comply   with the requirements of Section 551.006.           (e)     A municipal governing body that authorizes use of an   online message board or similar Internet application under this   section shall require a municipal employee to monitor the message   board or application for compliance with this section and Section   551.006.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.