Monitoring the Session

HB 2520

bill tightens the open meetings law

Vetoed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ann JohnsonDHouse 134

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 the open meetings law.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Specific agendas, appointed boards of managers covered, a narrower personnel exception.

The bill tightens the Texas open meetings law by adding state-appointed school boards of managers to the list of bodies that must meet in public, requiring meeting agendas specific enough to tell the public what will be discussed, and narrowing the closed-door exception for personnel talks. It touches every governmental body covered by the law, especially boards of managers appointed under Chapter 39A of the Education Code and any board discussing staff matters. On the ground, closed sessions on personnel are limited to a specific officer or employee and cannot be used for issues affecting a whole class of employees, a separate closed-meeting provision in Section 551.083 is repealed, and the changes apply to meetings held on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Ann Johnson (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Mayes Middleton (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2520 · 2025-02-06

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the open meetings law.

WHAT IT DOES

Specific agendas, appointed boards of managers covered, a narrower personnel exception.

The bill tightens the Texas open meetings law by adding state-appointed school boards of managers to the list of bodies that must meet in public, requiring meeting agendas specific enough to tell the public what will be discussed, and narrowing the closed-door exception for personnel talks. It touches every governmental body covered by the law, especially boards of managers appointed under Chapter 39A of the Education Code and any board discussing staff matters. On the ground, closed sessions on personnel are limited to a specific officer or employee and cannot be used for issues affecting a whole class of employees, a separate closed-meeting provision in Section 551.083 is repealed, and the changes apply to meetings held on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 18, 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. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Postponed 4/30/25 10:00 AM
  17. Laid out as postponed business
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#1073
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Postponed
  23. Laid out as postponed business
  24. Passed
  25. Record vote RV#1148
  26. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  27. Reported engrossed
  28. Received from the House
  29. Read first time
  30. Referred to Business & Commerce
  31. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Left pending in committee
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Vote taken in committee
  36. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  37. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  38. Committee report printed and distributed
  39. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  40. Laid before the Senate
  41. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  42. Vote recorded in Journal
  43. Three day rule suspended
  44. Record vote
  45. Read 3rd time
  46. Passed
  47. Record vote
  48. Senate passage reported
  49. Reported enrolled
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Signed in the Senate
  52. Sent to the Governor
  53. Vetoed by the Governor
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 137 yea · 3 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 1, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 28, 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

Donors

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 27, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$72,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$72,500.00

Cash
$72,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$72,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 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.

Report IDs: 100987008, 101008094, 101030169, 101058089, 101072095.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$65,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$65,000.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$65,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101008094, 101072095.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$54,875.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$54,875.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$29,875.00
Total
$54,875.00
consulting $29,875.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100987008, 101058089, 101068643, 101072095.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$72,500.00

Cash
$72,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$72,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 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.

Report IDs: 100987008, 101008094, 101030169, 101058089, 101072095.

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$65,000.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$65,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101008094, 101072095.

×

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$54,875.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$29,875.00
Total
$54,875.00
consulting $29,875.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 100987008, 101058089, 101068643, 101072095.

Votes5

Senate May 28, 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

HB 2520 (Middleton) Relating to 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 28, 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

HB 2520 (Middleton) Relating to 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 28, 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

HB 2520 (Middleton) Relating to 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 May 1, 2025

Yea
137
Nay
3
Present, not voting
2
Absent
5
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1148

HB 2520 was passed by (Record 1148): 137 Yeas, 3 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 137 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
139
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
8
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1073

HB 2520 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1073): 139 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 139 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 8 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses13
For
13
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas1 registration
  • Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Self; Every Texan1 registration
  • Self; Texas Press Association1 registration
  • TASB2 registrations
  • Texas Association of Broadcasters2 registrations
  • Texas Press Association2 registrations
Sources

13 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 E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 18, 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 Feb 6, 2025

06/22/2025 E Vetoed by the Governor

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.

Sponsors

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 10 aye, 1 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

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

Subjects

Education--School Districts

Open Meetings

PUBLIC NOTICE

Text

The text as introduced · 555 words

89R4041 JON-D

By: Johnson
H.B. No. 2520

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the open meetings law.

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

SECTION 1. Section 551.001(3), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(3) "Governmental body" means:

(A) a board, commission, department, committee,

or agency within the executive or legislative branch of state

government that is directed by one or more elected or appointed

members;

(B) a county commissioners court in the state;

(C) a municipal governing body in the state;

(D) a deliberative body that has rulemaking or

quasi-judicial power and that is classified as a department,

agency, or political subdivision of a county or municipality;

(E) a school district board of trustees;

(F) a county board of school trustees;

(G) a county board of education;

(H) the governing board of a special district

created by law;

(I) a local workforce development board created

under Section 2308.253;

(J) a nonprofit corporation that is eligible to

receive funds under the federal community services block grant

program and that is authorized by this state to serve a geographic

area of the state;

(K) a nonprofit corporation organized under

Chapter 67, Water Code, that provides a water supply or wastewater

service, or both, and is exempt from ad valorem taxation under

Section 11.30, Tax Code;

(L) a joint board created under Section 22.074,

Transportation Code; [ and ]

(M) a board of directors of a reinvestment zone

created under Chapter 311, Tax Code ; and

(N) a board of managers appointed under Chapter

39A, Education Code .

SECTION 2. Section 551.041, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 551.041. NOTICE OF MEETING REQUIRED. (a) A

governmental body shall give written notice of the date, hour,

place, and subject of each meeting held by the governmental body.

(b) The notice must include an agenda for the meeting that

is the subject of the notice that:

(1) is sufficiently specific to inform the public of

each subject to be considered in the open portion of the meeting,

including any matter:

(A) that is special or unusual; or

(B) in which the public may have a particular

interest; and

(2) describes any subject to be considered in the

closed portion of the meeting, if applicable.

SECTION 3. Section 551.074, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 551.074. PERSONNEL MATTERS; CLOSED MEETING. (a) This

chapter does not require a governmental body to conduct an open

meeting:

(1) to deliberate the appointment, employment,

evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a

specific public officer or employee; or

(2) to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or

employee.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply if :

(1) the officer or employee who is the subject of the

deliberation or hearing requests a public hearing ; or

(2) the governmental body's deliberations under

Subsection (a)(1) concern operational issues that generally impact

a class or group of employees, including changes in the duties or

compensation of a class or group of employees .

SECTION 4. Section 551.083, Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a meeting of a governmental body held on or after the effective date

of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.