Bill Text: TX HB2840 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Bill 2840 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to the right of a member of the public to address the governing body of a political subdivision at an open meeting of the body.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-10 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB2840 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2840-Enrolled.html



	H.B. No. 2840




	AN ACT
	relating to the right of a member of the public to address the
	governing body of a political subdivision at an open meeting of the
	body.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 551.007 to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.007. PUBLIC TESTIMONY. (a) This section applies
	only to a governmental body described by Sections
	551.001(3)(B)-(L).
	(b) A governmental body shall allow each member of the
	public who desires to address the body regarding an item on an
	agenda for an open meeting of the body to address the body regarding
	the item at the meeting before or during the body's consideration of
	the item.
	(c) A governmental body may adopt reasonable rules
	regarding the public's right to address the body under this
	section, including rules that limit the total amount of time that a
	member of the public may address the body on a given item.
	(d) This subsection applies only if a governmental body does
	not use simultaneous translation equipment in a manner that allows
	the body to hear the translated public testimony simultaneously. A
	rule adopted under Subsection (c) that limits the amount of time
	that a member of the public may address the governmental body must
	provide that a member of the public who addresses the body through a
	translator must be given at least twice the amount of time as a
	member of the public who does not require the assistance of a
	translator in order to ensure that non-English speakers receive the
	same opportunity to address the body.
	(e) A governmental body may not prohibit public criticism of
	the governmental body, including criticism of any act, omission,
	policy, procedure, program, or service. This subsection does not
	apply to public criticism that is otherwise prohibited by law.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.


	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 2840 was passed by the House on May 3,
	2019, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 3, 1 present, not
	voting.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 2840 was passed by the Senate on May
	22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: _____________________
	Date

	_____________________
	Governor