House Bill No. 4991 aims to enhance training requirements for attorneys and public officials regarding open meetings and public information laws in Texas. The bill introduces new provisions that mandate attorneys employed or engaged by public officials or governmental bodies to complete training on their responsibilities under these laws within ten days of their engagement. Additionally, it specifies that attorneys cannot be compensated for this training unless they are employees of the governmental body. The bill also amends existing provisions to clarify that public officials can designate a public information coordinator, but this does not exempt them from their training obligations.

Furthermore, the bill establishes deadlines for compliance with the training requirements. Attorneys assisting public officials or governmental bodies must complete the necessary training by October 1, 2025, while public officials who previously relied on a designated coordinator for training must complete their training by January 1, 2026. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 551.005, Government Code 552.012 (Government Code 551, Government Code 552)
House Committee Report: Government Code 551.005, Government Code 552.012 (Government Code 551, Government Code 552)
Engrossed: Government Code 551.005, Government Code 552.012 (Government Code 551, Government Code 552)