Relating to open meetings and public information training for certain public officials and attorneys regarding the open meetings and public information laws.
HB 4991 requires attorneys working with Texas public officials or governmental bodies to complete mandatory training on open meetings and public information laws. Attorneys must finish this training within 10 days of starting their role, and cannot be paid for the training time unless they are government employees. Public information coordinators must complete similar training within 90 days of taking their position. The bill applies to all attorneys assisting with compliance under Texas Government Code Chapters 551 (open meetings) and 552 (public information), with existing attorneys required to complete training by October 1, 2025.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 3, 2025
Last action May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
5 edits
·
May 16, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Texas Government Code sections 551.005 and 552.012 to add training requirements for attorneys assisting public officials with open meetings and public information laws. The changes establish specific deadlines for attorneys to complete training and clarify compensation rules for training time.
Scope change
The bill expands training requirements to include attorneys who assist public officials, public information coordinators, or governmental bodies, in addition to the officials themselves.
REQUIREMENT
Added new subsection (a-1) to Section 551.005 requiring attorneys assisting public officials to complete training within 10 days of employment.
Added new subsection (c-1) to Section 552.012 requiring attorneys assisting public officials or coordinators to complete training within 10 days of employment.
TIMELINE
Established October 1, 2025 deadline for attorneys already in office on the effective date to complete training.
Established January 1, 2026 deadline for public officials who previously delegated training to coordinators to complete their own training.
FISCAL
Clarified that attorneys cannot be compensated for training time unless they are employees of the governmental body.
Floor votes · House May 15, 2025
How they voted
111–13
Passed · 22 other
Total votes 146
May 15, 2025
D
Democratic60
86% Yea
R
Republican86
68% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
7
Committee
6
May 19, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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