A new bill authored by State Sen. Robert Nichols in the Texas Senate seeks to ensure public access to electronic records and communications held by government bodies, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Special Districts & Authorities and Water category, introduced as SB 50 during the 89(2) legislative session on Thursday, Aug. 21, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to a groundwater study of certain aquifers underlying the territory of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District by the Texas Water Development Board before the issuance of permits or permit amendments by the district’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Texas Government Code regarding electronic public information, ensuring that public access to this information is maintained even when a governmental body uses electronic recordkeeping systems. It clarifies that public information includes electronic communications related to official business and data dictionaries. Government bodies must provide requested information in a searchable or sortable format using current software and cannot deny requests based on the need for data export or redaction. Additionally, governmental bodies must ensure contracts for electronic information management do not hinder public access. The bill takes effect Sept. 1, 2025.
Robert Nichols, the chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, proposed another two bills during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, a member of the Senate Committee on Committee of the Whole Senate, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and a member of the Senate Committee on Local Government.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(2) | SB 55 | 08/21/2025 | Relating to a groundwater study of certain aquifers underlying the territory of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District by the Texas Water Development Board before the issuance of permits or permit amendments by the district |
| 89(2) | SB 41 | 08/18/2025 | Relating to the consideration by a groundwater conservation district of modeled available groundwater when issuing permits |
| 89(1) | SB 74 | 08/13/2025 | Relating to the regulation of groundwater produced in the boundaries of a groundwater conservation district |
| 89(1) | SB 44 | 07/23/2025 | Relating to the duties of the district attorney for the 1st Judicial District and the creation of the office of district attorney for the 273rd Judicial District |
| 89(R) | SB 3063 | 04/29/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Bayou Belle Municipal Management District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 89(R) | SB 2621 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the territory of the Angelina and Neches River Authority |
| 89(R) | SB 2582 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the compensation, reimbursement of expenses, and retirement benefits of a member of the State Board of Education |
| 89(R) | SB 2540 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the terms of certain agreements involving minor boundary adjustments between two contiguous school districts |
| 89(R) | SB 2476 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to transfer of the ownership rights of the Woodlawn Water Supply Corporation to the Angelina and Neches River Authority |
| 89(R) | SB 2425 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the regulation of automated motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | SB 2372 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of fraudulent use, possession, or tampering with gift cards or gift card data |
| 89(R) | SB 2371 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to skimmers on electronic terminals; authorizing a civil penalty; creating criminal offenses |
| 89(R) | SB 2370 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the duty of the comptroller of public accounts to provide certain information to a school district if the comptroller determines in the study of the total taxable value of property in the district that the local value for the district is not valid |
| 89(R) | SB 2226 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to requirements for loans or grants provided by the Texas Transportation Commission to aviation facilities located in economically disadvantaged counties |
| 89(R) | SB 1902 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the administration of the dealer-issued license plates database and to the removal and transfer of license plates |
| 89(R) | SB 1851 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the penalty for noncompliance with certain audit requirements by a municipality |
| 89(R) | SB 35 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the selection, prioritization, construction, and funding of transportation projects |
| 89(R) | SB 1655 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to design build contracts |
| 89(R) | SB 1555 | 02/21/2025 | Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects |
| 89(R) | SB 1499 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the operations of the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center |
| 89(R) | SB 1498 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to civil asset forfeiture of digital currency or other similar property |
| 89(R) | SB 1497 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the search of certain wireless communications devices by a peace officer |
| 89(R) | SB 1420 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to the use by a county, municipality, or school district of public money for lobbying activities |
| 89(R) | SB 1413 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to the procedure for amending or revoking certificates of public convenience and necessity issued to certain water utilities |
| 89(R) | SB 1412 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified timber land following the death of the owner of the land |
| 89(R) | SB 1405 | 02/19/2025 | Relating to increasing access to and reducing taxation of Internet services |
| 89(R) | SB 1366 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the inclusion of information about construction or maintenance work zones in the curriculum of driver education and driving safety courses |
| 89(R) | SB 1365 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to vehicle registration, license plates, and inspection reports |
| 89(R) | SB 1364 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the repeal of wheelbase and horsepower restrictions for the state’s passenger vehicle fleet |
| 89(R) | SB 1363 | 02/18/2025 | Relating to the collection, remittance, and administration of certain taxes on motor vehicles rented through a marketplace rental provider; imposing a penalty |
| 89(R) | SB 1262 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety Center, and public school safety and security requirements and resources |
| 89(R) | SB 1259 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the regulation of land surveyors by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors |
| 89(R) | SB 1258 | 02/13/2025 | Relating to the ownership of the pore space underlying the surface of land |
| 89(R) | SB 1193 | 02/10/2025 | Relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of child grooming |
| 89(R) | SB 1121 | 02/05/2025 | Relating to excepting certain communication facilities from certain notice requirements for projects on state or local public land |
| 89(R) | SB 1055 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to permit fees for groundwater wells imposed by the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District |
| 89(R) | SB 1030 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to the exemption from sales and use taxes for certain aircraft components and other property required for normal aircraft operations |
| 89(R) | SB 1029 | 01/31/2025 | Relating to the advertising of certain used motor vehicles |
| 89(R) | SB 997 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the duties of the district attorney for the 1st Judicial District and the creation of the office of district attorney for the 273rd Judicial District |
| 89(R) | SB 996 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to fireworks sales to the public by retail fireworks permit holders on certain dates |
| 89(R) | SB 995 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the approval of a surety bond for a contract authorizing an oversize or overweight vehicle to cross a road or highway |
| 89(R) | SB 994 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail |
| 89(R) | SB 993 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the authority of a peace officer commissioned by the comptroller to apply for an order authorizing the installation and use of a mobile tracking device |
| 89(R) | SB 992 | 01/29/2025 | Relating to the procedure by which the attorney general approves or denies approval of a state agency contract for outside legal services |
