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 of Texas as individuals whose notes and communications are exempt from public information requirements. This includes notes and electronic communications that record the observations, thoughts, questions, deliberations, or impressions of a technical examiner or administrative law judge, as well as drafts of proposals for decisions and 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 deliberative processes of administrative law judges and technical examiners, thereby ensuring that their working papers and communications remain private and are not subject to public disclosure.

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)