HB 849 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the authority of a county board of park commissioners to hold a meeting by videoconference call.

HB 849 allows county park boards in Texas to hold meetings via videoconference, but only if the presiding member is physically present at a public location during the open portion of the meeting. This rule specifically applies to county park boards and requires that the meeting location be open to the public while the presiding member is present. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does not change existing rules for other government bodies. It provides a clear, accessible process for park boards to conduct meetings remotely while maintaining public access.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 5, 2025 Last action May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 3 edits · May 1, 2025
MINOR
This bill amends the Texas Government Code to allow county boards of park commissioners to hold meetings via videoconference call, aligning them with existing rules for state governmental bodies. The change ensures these boards can conduct open meetings remotely while maintaining public access requirements.
Scope change
The bill extends videoconference meeting authority to county boards of park commissioners, which previously may not have had explicit statutory authority to do so under the same conditions as state governmental bodies.
ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility for videoconference meetings to include county boards of park commissioners alongside state governmental bodies and multi-county governmental bodies.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that the presiding member must be physically present at one public location during open portions of the meeting when using videoconference.

TIMELINE

Maintained existing effective date provisions: immediate effect with two-thirds vote, or September 1, 2025 if not.

Floor votes · House Apr 30, 2025

How they voted

1420
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 145
Apr 30, 2025
D Democratic60
59 Yea 1
98% Yea
R Republican85
83 Yea 2
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
8
Committee
7
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in subcommittee
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on County & Regional Government by Speaker
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors