Texans deserve a government that works for them, not behind closed doors. Transparency is the cornerstone of accountability and trust between elected officials and the people they serve. When decisions about taxes, education, public safety, and infrastructure are made out in the open, citizens can see where their tax dollars are being spent and whether their leaders are keeping their promises.

It is my strong belief that government compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act is non-negotiable. Too often, local and state government officials try to skirt the law on the public’s right to provide public comment and access meeting and hearing records. This is not acceptable.  

In 2019, I authored House Bill 2840, which gives the public the right to give public comment on agenda items at city council, board of adjustment, and special district meetings. Before this law, citizens only had the right to observe an open meeting of a government body.

In 2023, I was proud to author House Bill 3440, which requires governmental bodies subject to the Open Meetings law to post their meeting agendas on the internet. Previously, governmental bodies could comply with the law by only posting public meeting agendas somewhere in a government building, inconveniencing the public’s right to know how their tax dollars were being used.

Accountable leadership starts with sunlight. Over the course of my time in the Legislature, I worked with my colleagues and key stakeholders on legislation to hold elected officials accountable and keep their decision-making process open and transparent. If citizens are empowered and informed, democracy in Texas will continue to grow stronger for generations to come.