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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-06-20
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.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

HB4214: Government Affairs Overview

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.

Rep. Pat Curry·House Bill·Regular Session

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Business Impact

Who HB4214 Affects

This legislation has regulatory implications for the following Texas businesses and organizations:

Regulatory Priority: moderate

Notable regulatory updates (effective 2025-06-20). Consider how these changes may affect your operations.

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Technology

Affected business types:

  • Data centers
  • Technology companies
  • Software developers
  • Telecommunications providers
View all technology legislation

Key Operational Considerations

  • 1Public Information Officer (PIO): Update the PIO’s job description to include the non-negotiable duty of the annual October 1 filing.

Estimated Cost Impact

lowMinimal cost impact anticipated.

Enforcing Agencies

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HB4214
Relating to public access to the mailing address and electronic mail address designated by a governmental body to receive a request for public informa...
Moderate Urgency
Unanimous Passage
House Vote147 - 0
YEA
100% in favor147 voting
Senate Vote31 - 0
YEA
100% in favor31 voting
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
OAG
Primary Author: Rep. Pat Curry
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

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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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Mar 10, 2025
Passed House
May 6, 2025
Passed Senate
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsElectronic Information SystemsOpen RecordsAttorney GeneralCity GovernmentCity Government--generalCounty GovernmentCounty Government--generalPolitical SubdivisionsState Agencies, Boards & CommissionsEmail & Electronic Communications
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House Authors

Rep. Pat CurryRepublican · Primary Author

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Rep. Pat Curry

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB4214

Q

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.

Q

Who authored HB4214?

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

Q

When was HB4214 signed into law?

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

Q

Which agencies enforce HB4214?

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

Q

How significant are the changes in HB4214?

The regulatory priority for HB4214 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

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.

Q

What topics does HB4214 address?

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

Q

What are the key dates for HB4214?

Key dates for HB4214: Effective date is 2025-06-20. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026