bill shielding Railroad Commission hearing judges’ notes and emails

The text as introduced · 231 words

89R3838 MCK-F

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 2377

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the availability of certain working papers and

electronic communications of certain administrative law judges and

technical examiners under the public information law.

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

SECTION 1. Section 552.144, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 552.144. EXCEPTION: WORKING PAPERS AND ELECTRONIC

COMMUNICATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES AND TECHNICAL

EXAMINERS AT STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS AND RAILROAD

COMMISSION . The following working papers and electronic

communications of an administrative law judge at the State Office

of Administrative Hearings or of a technical examiner or

administrative law judge at the Railroad Commission of Texas are

excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021:

(1) notes and electronic communications recording the

observations, thoughts, questions, deliberations, or impressions

of an administrative law judge or a technical examiner ;

(2) drafts of a proposal for decision;

(3) drafts of orders made in connection with

conducting contested case hearings; and

(4) drafts of orders made in connection with

conducting alternative dispute resolution procedures.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a request for public information received by a governmental body or

an officer for public information on or after the effective date of

this Act.

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