Bill Text: TX HB1588 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to training requirements for certain public officials and candidates for public office.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-11 - Filed [HB1588 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1588-Introduced.html

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89R4881 SCL-F
By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 1588

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to training requirements for certain public officials and
candidates for public office.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 11.159(c-1) and (d), Education Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(c-1) The agency shall, for the training required by
Subsection (c)(1):
(1) provide the training; and
(2) certify the completion of the training by a
trustee or candidate for trustee [must be research-based and
designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees
under Section 11.1515].
(d) A trustee or candidate for trustee may complete training
required under Subsection (c) at a regional education service
center [or through another authorized provider. A provider must
certify the completion of the training by a trustee or candidate].
SECTION 2. Section 74.025, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 74.025. EDUCATION PROGRAMS. The court of criminal
appeals shall, if adequate funding is available for education
programs for judges and court personnel, ensure that adequate
education programs are available through an institution of higher
education or the State Bar of Texas on an equitable basis for judges
and court personnel of courts created under the constitution and
laws of this state.
SECTION 3. Sections 418.005(d) and (e), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(d) The division may provide the training and may also
approve any acceptable course of training provided [offered] by a
governmental body [or other entity]. The division shall ensure
that at least one course of training approved or provided by the
division is available on videotape or a functionally similar and
widely available medium at no cost.
(e) The division or governmental body [other entity]
providing the training shall provide a certificate of course
completion to a person who completes the training required by this
section. A person who completes the training required by this
section shall maintain and make available for public inspection the
record of the person's completion of the training.
SECTION 4. Sections 551.005(b) and (c), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(b) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is
made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the
training and may also approve any acceptable course of training
offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney
general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved
or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a
functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The
training must include instruction in:
(1) the general background of the legal requirements
for open meetings;
(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental
bodies;
(3) procedures and requirements regarding quorums,
notice, and recordkeeping under this chapter;
(4) procedures and requirements for holding an open
meeting and for holding a closed meeting under this chapter; and
(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to
comply with this chapter.
(c) The office of the attorney general or other governmental
body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of
course completion to persons who complete the training required by
this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make
available for public inspection the record of its members'
completion of the training.
SECTION 5. Sections 552.012(d) and (e), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(d) The attorney general shall ensure that the training is
made available. The office of the attorney general may provide the
training and may also approve any acceptable course of training
offered by a governmental body [or other entity]. The attorney
general shall ensure that at least one course of training approved
or provided by the attorney general is available on videotape or a
functionally similar and widely available medium at no cost. The
training must include instruction in:
(1) the general background of the legal requirements
for open records and public information;
(2) the applicability of this chapter to governmental
bodies;
(3) procedures and requirements regarding complying
with a request for information under this chapter;
(4) the role of the attorney general under this
chapter; and
(5) penalties and other consequences for failure to
comply with this chapter.
(e) The office of the attorney general or other governmental
body [entity] providing the training shall provide a certificate of
course completion to persons who complete the training required by
this section. A governmental body shall maintain and make
available for public inspection the record of its public officials'
or, if applicable, the public information coordinator's completion
of the training.
SECTION 6. Section 2054.519(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) To be certified under Subsection (a), a cybersecurity
training program must:
(1) focus on forming information security habits and
procedures that protect information resources; [and]
(2) teach best practices for detecting, assessing,
reporting, and addressing information security threats; and
(3) be provided by a state agency or local government.
SECTION 7. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 180.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 180.011. OFFICER CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS. Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the
governing body of a municipality, a member of a school board, an
elected county officer, or an individual appointed to fill a
vacancy in an elective county office is not required to attend or
complete any continuing education training required for the office.
SECTION 8. Section 6.231(c), Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(c) Continuing education required by this section must be:
(1) approved by the comptroller; and
(2) provided by the comptroller [a state agency] or an
accredited institution of higher education, including an
institution that is a part of or associated with an accredited
institution of higher education, such as the V. G. Young Institute
of County Government.
SECTION 9. The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Section 418.005(g), Government Code;
(2) Section 2054.519(c), Government Code;
(3) Section 81.0025, Local Government Code;
(4) Section 83.003, Local Government Code; and
(5) Section 84.0085, Local Government Code.
SECTION 10. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the State Board of Education shall modify all rules
that are inconsistent with the changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 11. Sections 11.159, Education Code, 418.005,
551.005, 552.012, and 2054.519, Government Code, and 6.231, Tax
Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to training conducted on or
after the effective date of this Act. Training conducted before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.