Endangered open-government bills get new life in Senate
AUSTIN – Legislation to close loopholes that pulled the teeth out of Texas' open-government laws got a late-session boost Thursday when several dying bills were rolled into a related measure that was then approved overwhelmingly by the Senate.
"This is one of those bills ... that is meaningful to the public," said state Sen. Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat whose maneuver kept on track a half dozen bills authored by himself and Republican House members Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi and Giovanni Capriglione of the Fort Worth area.
Watson's action came on the last day for the House to pass bills that originated in that chamber. Had the Senate not approved the measure, the House bills that were part of roll-in would have died when the clock struck midnight.
That legislation at issue, House Bill 2328 by state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, would expedite the process when public entities respond to public information requests. Because it deals with open government, it could be amended to include other matters related to making sure government conducts business in open view.
Read more: http://www.caller.com/story/news/local/texas/state-bureau/2017/05/11/endangered-open-government-bills-get-new-life-senate/101565716/
