H.F. 1065 - Summary

• Expands the Data Practices Act and Open Meeting Law to apply to the legislative branch, including the house, senate, and entities administered by the Legislative Coordinating Commission.

• Classifies legislative data as private or nonpublic, including preliminary bill drafts and caucus communications, while making formally introduced bills and most other legislative communications public.

• Requires all legislative meetings to be open to the public, including committee meetings, with exceptions for party caucuses and geographic delegations; Ethics Committee proceedings are public except during specified closed executive sessions.

• Establishes notice requirements for legislative committee meetings (3 days' notice for regular meetings, 24 hours for emergency meetings, 12 hours for conference committees) and requires bills and conference reports be available 24 hours before votes.

• Effective January 1, 2018; repeals existing section 3.055 on open meetings and establishes new responsible authorities for data management across legislative entities.