The bill, S.B. No. 1045, amends Section 2001.029(b) of the Government Code to lower the threshold for when a state agency must grant a public hearing before adopting a substantive rule. Specifically, it reduces the number of individuals required to request a hearing from 25 to 10. Additionally, the bill expands the list of entities that can request a public hearing to include the lieutenant governor, a member of the legislature, and associations with at least 10 members.

The changes will apply only to rules proposed by state agencies on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Rules proposed before this date will continue to be governed by the previous law. This amendment aims to enhance public participation in the rule-making process by making it easier for citizens and representatives to request hearings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2001.029 (Government Code 2001)