SB1504 - Relating to meetings of the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Authority.

      S.B. No. 1504         AN ACT   relating to meetings of the board of directors of the Gulf Coast   Authority.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2.07, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st   Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended by amending   Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read   as follows:          (a)  The board shall meet regularly as necessary [ at least   once each month, and may meet at any other time provided in its   bylaws ].           (d)     Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, Chapter   49, Water Code, or any other law, the directors of the board may   hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call,   videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method as   provided by this section. The board may use a telephone conference   call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method   for purposes of establishing a quorum, for voting, or for any other   meeting purpose.           (e)     A meeting of the directors may be held by telephone   conference call, videoconference, or other similar   telecommunication method only if:                   (1)     the director presiding over the meeting is   physically present at the location of the meeting that is open to   the public specified in the notice of the meeting during the open   portions of the meeting; and                 (2)     a video and audio feed of the directors   participating in the portions of the meeting required to be open   must be visible and audible to the public at the meeting location.           (f)     A director who participates in a meeting by telephone   conference call, videoconference, or other similar   telecommunication method shall be considered absent from any   portion of the meeting during which audio or video communication   with the director is lost or disconnected.           (g)     A meeting held by telephone conference call,   videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method is   subject to the notice requirements applicable to other board   meetings.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1504 passed the Senate on   April 16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that   the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 30, 2025, by the   following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1504 passed the House, with   amendment, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 128,   Nays 13, two present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor