Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

SB 413 amends Section 11.0621 of the Texas Education Code to increase transparency and accountability in independent school district board meetings. The bill mandates that meeting minutes must clearly document each trustee’s attendance and voting record. Additionally, school boards must post these minutes on the district's website within seven days of a meeting where a quorum is present. This ensures timely public access to board decisions.

The legislation also requires that any resolution adopted by the board be posted online within seven days of its adoption. Furthermore, all regular and special school board meetings must be recorded, reinforcing transparency and public oversight. The bill ensures that these records are accessible to the public in accordance with Section 551.022 of the Government Code, which governs the public's right to access governmental meeting materials.

The Committee Substitute for SB 413 strengthens the original bill by explicitly requiring school board meetings to be recorded, whereas the originally filed version only referenced the accessibility of meeting minutes and recordings under existing open meetings laws. This change ensures that all regular and special school board meetings will be recorded, preventing any potential loopholes where districts could avoid documentation.

Additionally, the Committee Substitute clarifies public access requirements by specifying that recordings must be made and available, ensuring greater transparency. It also removes the reference to a certified agenda, which was included in the original bill but is not typically required for school board meetings under open meetings laws. This change aligns the bill more closely with existing government transparency standards.

Overall, the Committee Substitute strengthens the original bill’s intent by making meeting documentation more comprehensive and accessible to the public.

Author

Mayes Middleton

Co-Author

Royce West

Sponsor

Bradley Buckley

Contact the Author

Sen. Mayes Middleton

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0111

Capitol Office:

EXT E1.706

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

The fiscal implications of SB 413 are minimal, according to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). The bill is not expected to have any fiscal impact on the state government, meaning it does not require additional state funding or resources for implementation.

For local governments, including independent school districts (ISDs), the bill is anticipated to have no significant financial burden. While ISDs will need to ensure that board meeting minutes, resolutions, and recordings are posted online in a timely manner, these requirements are considered administratively feasible within existing resources. Most school districts already record meetings and maintain websites, so compliance should not require substantial additional expenditures.

Overall, SB 413 promotes transparency and accountability without imposing notable costs on the state or local governments. The Texas Education Agency (TEA), cited as a source agency in the fiscal note, does not anticipate any significant financial impact on school districts as a result of the bill's requirements.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 413 enhances transparency and accountability in school board governance by requiring meeting minutes, resolutions, and recordings to be publicly posted within seven days. This ensures that parents, taxpayers, and community members can easily access and review board decisions without needing to file burdensome public information requests. The bill addresses concerns about delayed or incomplete documentation by requiring that meeting minutes reflect trustee votes and that recordings of meetings be publicly available.

This legislation aligns with principles of limited government and individual liberty by making public institutions more transparent and accountable without imposing excessive regulatory burdens. It also reinforces personal responsibility by ensuring that elected school board officials’ actions are clearly documented and accessible to the communities they serve. Importantly, the fiscal impact is minimal, as most school districts already maintain websites and record meetings.

Given its focus on enhancing transparency, strengthening public trust, and ensuring accessibility of school board decisions, SB 413 represents a positive step in open government reforms. For these reasons, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 413.

View Bill Text and Status