HB 5382

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.