Bill Text: TX HB3516 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Bill 3516

Bill Title: Relating to the availability of certain working papers and electronic communications of certain administrative law judges and technical examiners under the public information law.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/25 [HB3516 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB3516-Enrolled.html



	H.B. No. 3516




	AN ACT
	relating to the availability of certain working papers and
	electronic communications of certain administrative law judges and
	technical examiners under the public information law.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 552.144, Government Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 552.144. EXCEPTION: WORKING PAPERS AND ELECTRONIC
	COMMUNICATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES AND TECHNICAL
	EXAMINERS AT STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS AND RAILROAD
	COMMISSION. The following working papers and electronic
	communications of an administrative law judge at the State Office
	of Administrative Hearings or of a technical examiner or
	administrative law judge at the Railroad Commission of Texas are
	excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021:
	(1) notes and electronic communications recording the
	observations, thoughts, questions, deliberations, or impressions
	of an administrative law judge or a technical examiner;
	(2) drafts of a proposal for decision;
	(3) drafts of orders made in connection with
	conducting contested case hearings; and
	(4) drafts of orders made in connection with
	conducting alternative dispute resolution procedures.
	SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
	a request for public information received by a governmental body or
	an officer for public information on or after the effective date of
	this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.


	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 3516 was passed by the House on April
	29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 117, Nays 30, 1 present, not
	voting.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 3516 was passed by the Senate on May
	28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: _____________________
	Date

	_____________________
	Governor