Monitoring the Session

HB 1522

Gerdes Open Meetings Bill: three business days’ notice

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Stan GerdesRHouse 17

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Replaces 72 hours. Budget meetings must post a physical copy of the budget.

The bill changes the Texas open meetings law so a government body must post notice of a meeting at least three business days before the meeting date, instead of 72 hours before the meeting time. When the meeting will discuss or adopt the body's budget, the posted notice must include a physical copy of that budget. Every governmental body covered by the open meetings law has to post earlier and put its budget out with the notice, starting September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1522 · 2024-12-04

SOLD BY

Rep. Stan GerdesRHouse 17

+ 7 coauthors

ITEM

relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law.

WHAT IT DOES

Replaces 72 hours. Budget meetings must post a physical copy of the budget.

The bill changes the Texas open meetings law so a government body must post notice of a meeting at least three business days before the meeting date, instead of 72 hours before the meeting time. When the meeting will discuss or adopt the body's budget, the posted notice must include a physical copy of that budget. Every governmental body covered by the open meetings law has to post earlier and put its budget out with the notice, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 25, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amended 1-Gerdes
  18. Passed to engrossment as amended
  19. Record vote RV#83
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#93
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Business & Commerce
  28. Co-sponsor authorized
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Testimony taken in committee
  32. Left pending in committee
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Vote taken in committee
  35. Reported favorably as substituted
  36. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  37. Committee report printed and distributed
  38. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  39. Laid before the Senate
  40. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  41. Vote recorded in Journal
  42. Three day rule suspended
  43. Record vote
  44. Read 3rd time
  45. Passed
  46. Record vote
  47. Senate passage as amended reported
  48. Senate Amendments distributed
  49. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  50. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  51. Record vote RV#3964
  52. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  53. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  54. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  55. Reported enrolled
  56. Signed in the House
  57. Signed in the Senate
  58. Sent to the Governor
  59. Signed by the Governor
  60. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 147 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 25, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Stan Gerdes

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$316KDustin Burrows Campaign$89KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$68K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$316,248.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$316,248.00

Cash
$220,000.00
Paid by others
$96,248.00
Total
$316,248.00
advertising $74,698.00polling $21,550.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$88,800.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$88,800.00

Cash
$75,000.00
Paid by others
$13,800.00
Total
$88,800.00
polling $13,800.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$67,750.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$67,750.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$42,750.00
Total
$67,750.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $7,750.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101036569.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$316,248.00

Cash
$220,000.00
Paid by others
$96,248.00
Total
$316,248.00
advertising $74,698.00polling $21,550.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$88,800.00

Cash
$75,000.00
Paid by others
$13,800.00
Total
$88,800.00
polling $13,800.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$67,750.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$42,750.00
Total
$67,750.00
canvassing $35,000.00polling $7,750.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101036569.

Votes6

House May 28, 2025

Yea
132
Nay
2
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
9
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3964

Representative Gerdes moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 1522. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 1522 prevailed by (Record 3964): 132 Yeas, 2 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 132 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 9 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSHB 1522 (Kolkhorst) Relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSHB 1522 (Kolkhorst) Relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 25, 2025

Passage to third reading

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSHB 1522 (Kolkhorst) Relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 9, 2025

Yea
147
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 93

HB 1522 was passed by (Record 93): 147 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 147 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 8, 2025

Yea
148
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 83

CSHB 1522, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 83): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 148 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses26
For
13
Against
6
On
7
Names

For

  • Common Cause Texas1 registration
  • Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas1 registration
  • Self2 registrations
  • Self; Concerned Citizens of Elgin1 registration
  • Self; Texas Press Association2 registrations
  • Self; Texas Press Association/Denton Record-Chronicle1 registration
  • Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter1 registration
  • Texas Association of Broadcasters2 registrations
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation2 registrations

Against

  • City of Fort Worth1 registration
  • City of Garland1 registration
  • City of Garland, TX1 registration
  • City of Georgetown1 registration
  • City of Irving1 registration
  • Dallas County Commissioners Court1 registration

On

  • City of Dallas1 registration
  • Dallas County1 registration
  • El Paso County1 registration
  • Harris County Commissioners Court2 registrations
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials1 registration
  • Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
Sources

26 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 25, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Dec 4, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Aicha DavisDHouse 109 Richard HayesRHouse 57 Helen KerwinRHouse 58 Marc LaHoodRHouse 121 Janie LopezRHouse 37 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148 Matt MorganRHouse 26
Sponsors
Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18
Cosponsors
Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

City Government--Finance

City Government--General

Open Meetings

PUBLIC NOTICE

Text

The text as introduced · 186 words

89R5248 GP-F

By: Gerdes
H.B. No. 1522

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to notice of a meeting held under the open meetings law.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 551.043, Government Code,

is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 551.043. TIME AND ACCESSIBILITY OF NOTICE; POSTING OF

BUDGET; GENERAL RULE.

SECTION 2. Section 551.043, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as

follows:

(a) The notice of a meeting of a governmental body must be

posted in a place readily accessible to the general public at all

times for at least three business days [ 72 hours ] before the

scheduled date [ time ] of the meeting, except as provided by

Sections 551.044, 551.045, and 551.046 [ 551.044-551.046 ].

(c) The notice of a meeting required to be posted under

Subsection (a) at which a governmental body will discuss or adopt a

budget for the governmental body must include a physical copy of the

budget.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.