HB 2248 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the public information law.

HB 2248 amends Texas' public information law to clarify requirements for government offices handling public record requests. It requires government offices to notify requesters in writing within 10 business days if no responsive information exists (Section 1(f)) or if information is withheld based on prior decisions (Section 1(g)), including specifying the basis for withholding. The bill also prohibits charging fees for certain public records, such as election reports not available online or when government offices miss response deadlines (Section 2). These changes directly affect government offices managing public records and citizens or media seeking those records under Texas law.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 14, 2025 Last action May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · May 7, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends the Texas Public Information Act to strengthen transparency requirements for government bodies. It adds new provisions for notifying requestors when information is withheld, clarifies when fees can be charged for public information copies, and establishes a new mechanism for filing complaints when government bodies fail to respond to information requests.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of the Public Information Act by adding new enforcement mechanisms and clarifying existing provisions regarding information disclosure timelines and fee structures.
REQUIREMENT

Added new subsections requiring government bodies to provide written notification within 10 business days when they determine they have no responsive information or must withhold information based on previous determinations.

Modified Section 552.323 to clarify when courts can assess litigation costs and attorney fees, including new provisions protecting government bodies that acted in reasonable reliance on court judgments or attorney general opinions.

Added new Section 552.328 requiring government bodies that improperly fail to comply with response requirements to complete open records training within six months.

Modified fee provisions in Section 552.261 to clarify when government bodies cannot charge for providing copies of public information, including situations where clarification or decisions were requested late.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new Section 552.328 allowing requestors to file written complaints with the attorney general when government bodies fail to respond to information requests as required.

Floor votes · House May 6, 2025

How they voted

1410
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 144
May 6, 2025
D Democratic59
57 Yea 2
96% Yea
R Republican85
84 Yea 1
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
7
Committee
7
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Business & Commerce
upper
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of John Smithee
John Smithee
RRepublican
TX
86