The bill, S.B. No. 445, proposes to eliminate the fee for electronic access to certain information maintained by the Secretary of State in Texas. Specifically, it amends Section 405.018(d) of the Government Code by removing the requirement for the Secretary of State to set and charge a fee for access to this information, which was previously intended to cover the costs of establishing and administering the system. The only fee that remains is for the transfer of software under a different subsection.

This change aims to enhance public access to information by removing financial barriers, thereby promoting transparency and efficiency in government operations. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 405.018 (Government Code 405)