Relating to the authority of certain persons to bring an action for declaratory judgment under the open meetings law or public information law regarding compliance or action by a governmental body.

SB 1291 clarifies who can legally challenge government compliance with open meetings and public records laws. It allows any "interested person," including news media members, to file a lawsuit (declaratory judgment) to verify if a government body followed open meetings rules or to interpret those rules when the government takes a position. Similarly, requesters of public records or the state attorney general can sue to confirm if a government agency properly handled a records request, including disputes over cost estimates or attorney general decisions. The bill also ensures courts can award attorney fees to winning parties under existing law. This bill directly affects citizens, journalists, and government agencies interacting with Texas' open government laws.