SB 986 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to procedures under the public information law, including expedited responses and charges for bad faith requests.

SB 986 amends Texas public information law to address delays and abusive requests. It directly affects government agencies responding to public records requests and individuals or organizations making those requests. The bill establishes a $1,000 fee for requestors deemed to have made a "bad faith" request (one lacking legitimate purpose), and a $500 daily penalty for agencies that fail to release withheld information after being notified of bad faith by the attorney general. It also clarifies that agency response deadlines do not override other legal timeframes and strengthens the presumption that withheld information must be released if agencies don’t follow proper procedures.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action May 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · May 7, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Texas's Public Information Act to create a new expedited response procedure for government bodies that meet specific training requirements. It adds penalties for bad faith requests, establishes new response timelines, and creates a formal training and certification system for public information officers.

Scope change

The bill expands the Public Information Act by adding a new Subchapter K that applies only to governmental bodies whose public information officers have completed specific training and hold active certification.

REQUIREMENT

New Subchapter K establishes an expedited response procedure requiring public information officers to complete 16 hours of training and hold active certification to participate.

New training requirements mandate 16 hours of training every four years for public information officers, with online options and certification tracking.

ENFORCEMENT

New Section 552.311 allows the attorney general to charge $1,000 for processing bad faith requests and $500 per business day for delays caused by bad faith requests.

New revocation procedures allow the attorney general to revoke authorization for bodies that fail to comply, with a maximum six-month revocation period.

TIMELINE

Modified response requirements to mandate responses within 10 business days for participating bodies, with specific appeal procedures and notice requirements.

Implementation timeline set for September 1, 2025, with data reporting requirements through February 1, 2027.

Floor votes · Senate May 7, 2025

How they voted

24–6

Passed

Total votes 30

May 7, 2025

D Democratic10

5 Yea 5 Nay

50% Nay

R Republican20

19 Yea 1 Nay

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency

lower

May 10, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

May 7, 2025

Introduced

Amendment(s) offered

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business & Commerce

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors