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HB 3711

AN ACT relating to the investigation and prosecution of certain open

House Bill Capriglione | Harris Davila | Cook
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

Expands the definition of "offenses against public administration" to include violations of open meetings laws by county, municipal, and school district officers. It specifically adds offenses under Chapter 551 (Open Meetings Act) to the list of prosecutable administrative offenses, giving law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to investigate and charge public officials who improperly conduct closed meetings or violate transparency requirements. The changes will apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the investigation and prosecution of certain open
meetings offenses as offenses against public administration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 411.0252, Government Code, is amended to
Sec. 411.0252.  OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.  For
purposes of this subchapter, the following are offenses against
(1)  an offense under Title 8, Penal Code, committed by
a state officer or a state employee in connection with the powers
and duties of the state office or state employment;
(2)  an offense under Chapter 301, 302, 571, 572, or
2004 committed by a state officer or a state employee in connection
with the powers and duties of the state office or state employment
or by a candidate for state office;
(3)  an offense under Chapter 573 committed by a state
officer in connection with the powers and duties of the state
(4)  an offense under Title 15, Election Code,
(A)  a campaign for or the holding of state
(B)  an election on a proposed constitutional
(5)  an offense under Chapter 551 committed by a county
or municipal officer or school district board of trustees member.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the investigation and prosecution of certain open