Bill > HB3516

This bill amends Section 552.144 of the Government Code to expand existing provisions regarding the confidentiality of working papers and electronic communications for administrative law judges. Specifically, the bill extends the existing confidentiality protections to include technical examiners at both the State Office of Administrative Hearings and the Railroad Commission of Texas. The protected materials include personal notes, electronic communications, draft proposals for decisions, and draft orders related to contested case hearings and alternative dispute resolution procedures. The confidentiality exception means that these specific types of documents and communications would be exempt from public information disclosure requirements under the state's public information law. The bill will apply only to public information requests received on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, and is designed to protect the deliberative processes of administrative law judges and technical examiners by keeping their draft work and personal deliberations confidential.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3516