Legislative Update

As the 2015 Texas legislative session came to a close, significant strides were made in the free speech and transparency areas. The most important legislative victory for journalists was passage of Senate Bill 627, which codifies a defense for the news media's accurate reporting of third-party allegations. Accurate reporting on such allegations had been protected under Texas common law for 25 years but was called into question in a Texas Supreme Court ruling. Legislative Update: 2015 session passage of Senate Bill 627

A significant open government bill approved in the 2013 legislative session expands the definition of public information in the Texas Public Information Act to include electronic communications created by, received by, or maintained by a public officer or employee connected to official business and stored on any device. Lawmakers also approved several other government transparency bills. Legislative Update: 2013 Session, Laura Prather, Thomas Williams, Haynes & Boone, LLP Texas Adopts the Defamation Mitigation Act, Laura Prather, Haynes & Boone, LLP

Over the three legislative sessions from 2009 to 2013, newsrooms have gained significantly greater protections under Texas law. Texas became the 37th state to enact a reporter's privilege law in 2009. In 2011, the Legislature joined 27 other states in adopting an anti-SLAPP statute providing for dismissal of meritless lawsuits brought against those exercising their free speech rights. In 2013, Texas became the 32nd state to enact a retraction statute enabling publishers to correct mistakes in a timely manner and limit legal exposure. New Laws Protecting Texas Newsrooms, Laura Prather, Haynes & Boone, LLP Texas Citizen [...]