Texas § GV.552.234 - METHOD OF MAKING WRITTEN REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION

§ GV.552.234. METHOD OF MAKING WRITTEN REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION

METHOD OF MAKING WRITTEN REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) A person may make a written request for public information under this chapter only by delivering the request by one of the following methods to the applicable officer for public information or a person designated by that officer: (1) United States mail; (2) electronic mail; (3) hand delivery; or (4) any other appropriate method approved by the governmental body, including: (A) facsimile transmission; and (B) electronic submission through the governmental body's Internet website. (b) For the purpose of Subsection (a)(4), a governmental body is considered to have approved a method described by that subdivision only if the governmental body includes a statement that a request for public information may be made by that method on: (1) the sign required to be displayed by the governmental body under Section 552.205 ; or (2) the governmental body's Internet website. (c) A governmental body may designate one mailing address and one electronic mail address for receiving written requests for public information. The governmental body shall provide the designated mailing address and electronic mailing address to any person on request. (d) A governmental body that posts the mailing address and electronic mail address designated by the governmental body under Subsection (c) on the governmental body's Internet website or that prints those addresses on the sign required to be displayed by the governmental body under Section 552.205 is not required to respond to a written request for public information unless the request is received: (1) at one of those addresses; (2) by hand delivery; or (3) by a method described by Subsection (a)(4) that has been approved by the governmental body. (e) Not later than October 1 of each year, each governmental body shall notify the attorney general of the current mailing address and electronic mail address designated by the governmental body under Subsection (c) for receiving written requests for public information. (f) The attorney general shall create and maintain on the office of the attorney general's Internet website a publicly accessible database of the mailing addresses and electronic mail addresses provided by governmental bodies under Subsection (e). Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1340 (S.B. 944 ), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1097 (H.B. 4214 ), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.