HB4214

Regular Session

Relating to public access to the mailing address and electronic mail address designated by a governmental body to receive a request for public information under the public information law.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Office of the Attorney General (OAG)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediately effective).
Compliance Deadline: The first mandatory reporting deadline is October 1, 2025.
Agency Rulemaking: The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) must immediately establish the database. While formal rulemaking is not required, the OAG will issue administrative guidance on the specific submission method (likely a web portal) prior to the October deadline.

Immediate Action Plan

Designate Immediately: Ensure a specific PIA email address is formally designated under Section 552.234(c) to control intake flow.
Calendar the Deadline: Set a recurring compliance alert for September 1 to verify the email address is active and prepare the filing due October 1.
Monitor OAG Channels: Assign a staff member to watch for the Attorney General's announcement regarding the opening of the reporting database/portal.
Verify Vendor Compliance: If you are a private sector vendor, send a formal notice to your government clients reminding them of this requirement to protect your confidential information.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Vendor Agreements: Private businesses submitting trade secrets to government entities should amend contracts to require the government client to maintain current contact information with the OAG. If the government client fails to update the database, the vendor's proprietary data is at risk of release due to missed notice deadlines.
IT Service Agreements: Ensure the specific email address designated for PIA requests (e.g., `openrecords@city.gov`) is contractually exempt from standard auto-delete/retention policies and has expanded storage limits to handle large file submissions.

Hiring/Training

Public Information Officer (PIO): Update the PIO’s job description to include the non-negotiable duty of the annual October 1 filing.
Staff Training: Train intake staff that the address listed in the OAG database is the legally controlling address. If a requestor sends a request elsewhere, the entity’s defense relies on the accuracy of the OAG filing.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Annual Filing: You must submit the designated mailing and email address to the OAG annually, not later than October 1.
Proof of Submission: You must retain a timestamped receipt or confirmation of this filing. In litigation, this receipt proves you provided proper public notice of your designated address.

Fees & Costs

No Filing Fees: There are no statutory fees associated with the filing.
Cost Impact: Minimal administrative cost; absorbable within existing budgets.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Mid-Year Changes: The statute requires reporting "not later than October 1," but is silent regarding changes made *after* the filing (e.g., changing an email address in March).
*Risk:* If you change your intake email mid-year but do not update the OAG until the following October, you may be liable for requests sent to the old address listed in the database.
Submission Mechanism: The law does not specify *how* to transmit the data (email, web form, or certified mail). Entities must monitor the OAG Open Records Division for the launch of the specific submission portal.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsElectronic Information Systems Open Records Attorney General City Government City Government--general County Government County Government--general Political Subdivisions State Agencies, Boards & Commissions Email & Electronic Communications

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4214

By: Curry

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that, under current law, individuals seeking public records often face difficulties in determining the correct contact information for submitting requests, leading to delays, confusion, and potential noncompliance by governmental entities. C.S.H.B. 4214 seeks to address transparency and accessibility of the Texas Public Information Act and ensure a centralized, updated database of governmental contact points for public information requests by requiring each governmental body to annually submit its designated mailing and electronic mail addresses for public information requests to the Texas Attorney General's office, and by requiring the attorney general to compile and maintain this information in a publicly accessible online database.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4214 amends the Government Code to require each governmental body, not later than October 1 of each year, to notify the attorney general of the current mailing address and email address designated by the governmental body for receiving written requests for public information. The bill requires the attorney general to create and maintain on the office of the attorney general's website a publicly accessible database of those addresses provided by applicable governmental bodies.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 4214 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.

House Authors

Rep. Pat CurryRepublican · Primary Author

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 4214

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to public access to the mailing address and electronic
	mail address designated by a governmental body to receive a request
	for public information under the public information law.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 552.234, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
	(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).
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 8, 2025

TO:	Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB4214 by Curry (Relating to the public information law.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would direct the Office of the Attorney General to create and maintain a publicly accessible database on its website that includes the mailing address and electronic mail address designated for receiving written public information requests from each governmental body subject to Chapter 552 of the Government Code.

It is assumed that any technology costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

302 Office of the Attorney General

LBB Staff:

JMc, RStu, LCO, JKe

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB4214

What does Texas HB4214 do?

HB4214 mandates that all Texas governmental bodies annually report their designated mailing and email addresses for Public Information Act (PIA) requests to the Attorney General. This creates a centralized "source of truth" for the public; failure to report correctly creates a procedural trap where requests sent to unmonitored inboxes may become valid, triggering missed deadlines and the automatic release of confidential or proprietary information. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediately effective).

Who authored HB4214?

HB4214 was authored by Texas Representative Pat Curry during the Regular Session.

When was HB4214 signed into law?

HB4214 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB4214?

HB4214 is enforced by Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

How urgent is compliance with HB4214?

The compliance urgency for HB4214 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB4214?

The cost impact of HB4214 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB4214 address?

HB4214 addresses topics including electronic information systems, open records, attorney general, city government and city government--general.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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