Monitoring the Session

HB 3711

bill adding Open Meetings Act offenses to public administration list

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Giovanni CapriglioneRHouse 98

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 investigation and prosecution of certain open meetings offenses as offenses against public administration.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Covers county officers, city officers and school board trustees.

This bill adds Open Meetings Act offenses to the state list of offenses against public administration, which state law handles through a special investigation and prosecution track. It covers county officers, city officers and school board trustees who commit an offense under the open meetings chapter. Starting September 1, 2025, those local open meetings cases move into that state track, but only for conduct on or after that date.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3711 · 2025-03-04

SOLD BY

Rep. Giovanni CapriglioneRHouse 98 Rep. Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Rep. David CookRHouse 96

ITEM

relating to the investigation and prosecution of certain open meetings offenses as offenses against public administration.

WHAT IT DOES

Covers county officers, city officers and school board trustees.

This bill adds Open Meetings Act offenses to the state list of offenses against public administration, which state law handles through a special investigation and prosecution track. It covers county officers, city officers and school board trustees who commit an offense under the open meetings chapter. Starting September 1, 2025, those local open meetings cases move into that state track, but only for conduct on or after that date.

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 27, 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. Left pending in committee
  11. Considered in public hearing
  12. Committee substitute considered in committee
  13. Reported favorably as substituted
  14. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  15. Committee report distributed
  16. Committee report sent to Calendars
  17. Considered in Calendars
  18. Placed on General State Calendar
  19. Read 2nd time
  20. Passed to engrossment
  21. Record vote RV#669
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Read 3rd time
  24. Passed
  25. Record vote RV#758
  26. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  27. Reported engrossed
  28. Received from the House
  29. Read first time
  30. Referred to Local Government
  31. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  32. Considered in public hearing
  33. Testimony taken in committee
  34. Left pending in committee
  35. Considered in public hearing
  36. Vote taken in committee
  37. Reported favorably as substituted
  38. Committee report printed and distributed
  39. Placed on intent calendar
  40. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  41. Read 2nd time
  42. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Eckhardt
  43. Amended
  44. Vote recorded in Journal
  45. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  46. Vote recorded in Journal
  47. Three day rule suspended
  48. Record vote
  49. Read 3rd time
  50. Passed
  51. Record vote
  52. Senate passage as amended reported
  53. Senate Amendments distributed
  54. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  55. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  56. Record vote RV#4009
  57. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  58. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  59. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  60. Reported enrolled
  61. Signed in the House
  62. Signed in the Senate
  63. Sent to the Governor
  64. Signed by the Governor
  65. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 131 yea · 13 nay

Senate · 26 yea · 5 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 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

Giovanni Capriglione

Donors

Capital One Financial Corporation Associates Political Fund$5KMurt Arnold$5,000Jason Itkin$5,000

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 31, 2024 to Oct 29, 2025. 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.

Capital One Financial Corporation Associates Political Fund$5,000.00

Capital One Financial Corporation Associates Political Fund

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 14, 2024 to Jul 14, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jul 14, 2025. 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: 101030508.

Murt Arnold$5,000.00
Jason Itkin$5,000.00
Money

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

×

Capital One Financial Corporation Associates Political Fund

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 14, 2024 to Jul 14, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jul 14, 2025. 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: 101030508.

Votes7

House May 28, 2025

Yea
82
Nay
40
Present, not voting
1
Absent
17
Excused
10
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 4009

Representative Capriglione moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3711. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3711 prevailed by (Record 4009): 82 Yeas, 40 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 82 (published)
  • Nay: 40 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 17 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
26
Nay
5
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 26 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
26
Nay
5
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Middleton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 3711 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.

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

  • Yea: 26 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 26, 2025

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

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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

Sources

CSHB 3711 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

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.

Senate May 26, 2025

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

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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

Sources

The amendment to CSHB 3711 was read and was adopted by a viva voce vote.

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 29, 2025

Yea
131
Nay
13
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 758

HB 3711 was passed by (Record 758): 131 Yeas, 13 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 131 (published)
  • Nay: 13 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea
134
Nay
10
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 669

CSHB 3711 was passed to engrossment by (Record 669): 134 Yeas, 10 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 134 (published)
  • Nay: 10 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses10
For
9
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas2 registrations
  • Self3 registrations
  • Self; Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas1 registration
  • Self; Texas Press Association1 registration
  • Texas Association of Broadcasters1 registration
  • Texas Press Association1 registration

On

  • Texas Department of Public Safety1 registration
Sources

10 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 27, 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 Mar 4, 2025

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.

Sponsors
Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

City Government--Employees/Officers

County Government--Employees/Officers

Courts--Prosecuting Attorneys

Education--School Districts

Ethics

Law Enforcement

Open Meetings

PUBLIC NOTICE

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Text

The text as introduced · 317 words

89R15171 CJD-D

By: Capriglione
H.B. No. 3711

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the investigation and prosecution of certain open

meetings offenses as offenses against public administration.

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

SECTION 1. Section 411.0252, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.0252. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. For

purposes of this subchapter, the following are offenses against

public administration:

(1) an offense under Title 8, Penal Code, committed by

a state officer or a state employee in connection with the powers

and duties of the state office or state employment;

(2) an offense under Chapter 301, 302, 571, 572, or

2004 committed by a state officer or a state employee in connection

with the powers and duties of the state office or state employment

or by a candidate for state office;

(3) an offense under Chapter 573 committed by a state

officer in connection with the powers and duties of the state

office; [ and ]

(4) an offense under Title 15, Election Code,

committed in connection with:

(A) a campaign for or the holding of state

office; or

(B) an election on a proposed constitutional

amendment ; and

(5) an offense under Chapter 551 committed by a county

or municipal officer or school district board of trustees member .

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.

An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,

and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For

purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the

effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred

before that date.

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