HB 5382
bill letting zoning commissions run public message boards
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 establishment and use of a written electronic communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal entities.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Up to two years per authorization, under open-meetings rules.
The bill lets a city council, by ordinance or resolution, allow its zoning commission or similar body to run its own online message board where members can communicate in writing in public view. Each authorization lasts up to two years, can be renewed or rescinded, and must follow the same open-meetings rules that already govern a city's single message board. Cities that use this option must assign a city employee to monitor the board for compliance, and the change starts September 1, 2025.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5382 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the establishment and use of a written electronic communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal entities.
WHAT IT DOES
Up to two years per authorization, under open-meetings rules.
The bill lets a city council, by ordinance or resolution, allow its zoning commission or similar body to run its own online message board where members can communicate in writing in public view. Each authorization lasts up to two years, can be renewed or rescinded, and must follow the same open-meetings rules that already govern a city's single message board. Cities that use this option must assign a city employee to monitor the board for compliance, and the change starts September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 28, 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.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$56,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $31,000.00
- Total
- $56,000.00
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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.
Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$17,000.00
- Cash
- $17,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $17,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund
$56,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $31,000.00
- Total
- $56,000.00
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: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.
Texas Sands PAC
$17,000.00
- Cash
- $17,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $17,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 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: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 710 by Eckhardt (identical)
Subjects
City Government--Land Use & Zoning
Electronic Information Systems
Open Meetings
EMAIL & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
INTERNET
Text
The text as introduced · 397 words
89R4684 GP-D By: Bucy H.B. No. 5382 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment and use of a written electronic communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal entities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 551.006(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Except as provided by Section 551.0061, a [ A ] governmental body may have no more than one online message board or similar Internet application to be used for the purposes described in Subsection (a). The online message board or similar Internet application must be owned or controlled by the governmental body, prominently displayed on the governmental body's primary Internet web page, and no more than one click away from the governmental body's primary Internet web page. SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 551, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 551.0061 to read as follows: Sec. 551.0061. WRITTEN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL ENTITIES. (a) The governing body of a municipality by ordinance or resolution may authorize a commission or other entity organized under Subchapter A, Chapter 211, Local Government Code, to establish and use an online message board or similar Internet application for the purposes described in Section 551.006(a). (b) A governing body adopting an ordinance or resolution under this section may authorize use of the online message board or similar Internet application for a period of not longer than two years, and may reauthorize use of the message board or application in the same manner and for the same period as many times as the governing body determines is appropriate. The governing body may rescind an ordinance or resolution adopted under this section at any time. (c) An online message board or similar Internet application authorized by this section is separate from and in addition to a municipal online message board or similar Internet application authorized by Section 551.006. (d) The use and administration of an online message board or similar Internet application authorized by this section must comply with the requirements of Section 551.006. (e) A municipal governing body that authorizes use of an online message board or similar Internet application under this section shall require a municipal employee to monitor the message board or application for compliance with this section and Section 551.006. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.