The bill, S.B. No. 50, aims to enhance the maintenance and production of electronic public information under Texas public information law. It amends Section 552.002(a-2) of the Government Code to clarify that "public information" includes electronic communications related to official business and data dictionaries that describe the type of information in a database, excluding metadata that pertains to database security. Additionally, it introduces a new section, 552.2285, which defines "electronic public information" as information maintained in a searchable or sortable electronic format. This section mandates that governmental bodies must provide requested electronic public information in the format requested by the requestor, whether that be electronic or paper, and prohibits them from denying access based on the complexity of exporting or redacting information.

Furthermore, the bill repeals Section 552.231 of the Government Code and modifies Section 118.011(e) of the Local Government Code to align with the new provisions regarding the format and fees for copies of records. The changes will only apply to requests for public information received on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure greater transparency and accessibility of electronic public information while maintaining the public's right to access such information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 118.011, Government Code 552.231 (Government Code 552, Local Government Code 118)