Texas law on any date › Government Code
Government Code §551.144
In force on May 26, 2006 · this text took effect Aug 30, 1999 · same as today's text
CLOSED MEETING; OFFENSE; PENALTY
(a) A member of a governmental body commits an offense if a closed meeting is not permitted under this chapter and the member knowingly:
(1) calls or aids in calling or organizing the closed meeting, whether it is a special or called closed meeting;
(2) closes or aids in closing the meeting to the public, if it is a regular meeting; or
(3) participates in the closed meeting, whether it is a regular, special, or called meeting.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:
(1) a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;
(2) confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months; or
(3) both the fine and confinement.
(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the member of the governmental body acted in reasonable reliance on a court order or a written interpretation of this chapter contained in an opinion of a court of record, the attorney general, or the attorney for the governmental body.
History: Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 647, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.
Source: the Legislature's file server, seen Sep 21, 2018 to Nov 08, 2026.
Every version on file
- Effective Aug 30, 1999 · seen Sep 2018–Nov 2026
Attorney General opinions that cite it
- GA-0511 (May 26, 2006): Whether the Open Meetings Act, Government Galveston, Texas 77551-4137 Code chapter 55 1, permits a governmental body to admit selected members of the public into a closed meeting
A research copy. The official text is the Legislature's (statutes), the Secretary of State's (Texas Administrative Code) or eCFR's (federal rules). Not legal advice.