Senate Bill No. 2680 amends the Texas Government Code to enhance the public information law by introducing several key provisions. Notably, it allows the attorney general to determine when a governmental body is temporarily unable to respond to information requests due to disasters or other events, designating up to 30 nonbusiness days per year for such bodies. Additionally, the bill redesignates existing legal language regarding exceptions to disclosure and clarifies definitions related to licensing authorities and confidential information. It also establishes new procedures for requestors to file lawsuits concerning decisions made by the attorney general regarding information requests.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a rebuttable presumption in legal proceedings that information deemed within an exception by the attorney general is indeed protected from disclosure. This presumption applies to suits filed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process of handling public information requests while providing necessary protections for sensitive information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 552.0031, Government Code 552.11765, Government Code 552.321 (Government Code 552)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 552.0031, Government Code 552.11765, Government Code 552.321 (Government Code 552)