H.B. No. 3516 amends Section 552.144 of the Government Code to expand the exception for certain working papers and electronic communications related to administrative law judges. The bill specifically includes technical examiners at the State Office of Administrative Hearings and the Railroad Commission as part of the exception. It states that the following documents are exempt from public information requirements: notes and electronic communications reflecting the observations and deliberations of administrative law judges or technical examiners, drafts of proposals for decisions, and drafts of orders related to contested case hearings and alternative dispute resolution procedures. The changes made by this Act will only apply to requests for public information received on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. This legislation aims to protect the confidentiality of the working papers and communications of administrative law judges and technical examiners, thereby ensuring that their deliberative processes remain private.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 552.144 (Government Code 552)
House Committee Report: Government Code 552.144 (Government Code 552)
Engrossed: Government Code 552.144 (Government Code 552)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 552.144 (Government Code 552)
Enrolled: Government Code 552.144 (Government Code 552)