Texas Legislative Session resulted in several amendments to the Public Information Act (the “Act”), chapter 552 of the Government Code. To help familiarize governmental bodies and members of the public with these changes, the Office of the Attorney General (the “OAG”) is providing the following list of significant or broadly applicable amendments to Texas public information law. This list does not encompass all changes impacting public information. It is also important to note some of these amendments are only applicable to requests received by a governmental body on or after September 1, 2021. This update is provided as a courtesy and should not be relied upon as legal advice. To learn more about these amendments or recent amendments to other relevant laws, please check the Texas Legislature Online Webpage.
| Amended Statute | Relevant Bill | Effective Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gov’t Code § 552.1331 | HB 872 | Immediately | Adds section 552.1331 of the Government Code which makes certain utility customer information confidential. |
| Gov’t Code §§ 552.003, 552.117, 552.1175, 552.161, 552.162, 552.2325 | HB 3607 | September 1, 2021 | Redesignates certain sections of the Act in order to correct the numbering of these sections. |
| Ch. 1703 Occ. Code | HB 1560 | September 1, 2021 | Repeals Chapter 1703 of the Occupations Code. |
| Gov’t Code §§ 552.117, 552.1175; Tax Code § 25.025 | HB 1082 | Immediately | - Adds elected public officers to sections 552.117 and 552.1175 of the Government Code, as well as section 25.025 of the Tax Code. - Redesignates certain subsections. |
| Gov’t Code § 552.1315 | HB 2357 | Immediately | - Adds section 552.1314 of the Government Code, which makes certain crime victim information confidential. |
| Gov’t Code §§ 552.117, 552.1175; Tax Code § 25.025 | SB 56 | Immediately | - Adds federal public defender, deputy federal public defender, and assistant federal public defender and the spouse or child of the current or former attorney or public defender to sections 552.117 and 552.1175 of the Government Code. - Adds a current or former United States attorney and assistant United States attorney to section 552.1175 of the Government Code. - Adds federal public defender, deputy public defender, and assistant federal public defender and the spouse and child of the attorney or public defender to section 25.025 of the Tax Code. |
| Gov’t Code § 552.149 | SB 334 | Immediately | - Revises the right of access under section 552.149. |
| Gov’t Code §§ 552.003, 552.117, 552.1175; Tax Code § 25.025 | SB 841 | Immediately | - Adds definition for “honorably retired” to section 552.003 of the Government Code and section 25.05 of the Tax Code. - Revises certain subsections of sections 552.117 and 552.1175 of the Government Code and 25.025 of the Tax Code. |
| Tex. Parks & Wildlife Code § 11.030; Transp. Code §§ 204.011, 548.601; Ch. 730 Transp. Code | SB 15 | Immediately | Amends certain provisions relating to the Texas Consumer Privacy Act. |
| Elec. Code §§ 13.0021, 13.004, 15.0215; Fin. Code §§ 254.0313, 411.179; Gov’t Code §§ 552.117, 572.035; Local Gov’t Code § 159.071; Prop. Code § 11.008; Tax Code § 25.025; Transp. Code §§ 521.054, 521.121, 521.142 | SB 1134 | September 1, 2021 | Amends provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain information for certain federal officials and family members of certain federal officials and federal or state court judges. |
| Gov’t Code §§ 552.2325; 552.2211 | SB 1225 | September 1, 2021 | - Revises requirements for submitting catastrophe notices. - Adds section 552.2211. |