89R596 MP-F     By: Middleton S.B. No. 1504       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to meetings of the board of directors of the Gulf Coast   Authority.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2.07, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st   Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended by amending   Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) to   read as follows:          (a)  The board shall meet regularly as necessary [at least   once each month, and may meet at any other time provided in its   bylaws].          (d)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, Chapter   49, Water Code, or any other law, the board may hold an open or   closed meeting by telephone conference call, videoconference, or   other similar telecommunication method. The board may use a   telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar   telecommunication method for purposes of establishing a quorum, for   voting, or for any other meeting purpose.          (e)  A meeting held by telephone conference call,   videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method is   subject to the notice requirements applicable to other board   meetings.          (f)  The notice of a meeting to be held by telephone   conference call, videoconference, or other similar   telecommunication method must include:                (1)  a toll-free telephone number that members of the   public may use to hear and, if applicable, speak at the meeting;                (2)  free-of-charge access information for any   audiovisual or audio-only feeds; and                (3)  instructions for a member of the public to speak at   the meeting from a remote location.          (g)  If the board prepares an agenda packet or other   materials that would have been distributed to members of the public   at a face-to-face meeting, the board shall make the packet or other   materials available electronically.          (h)  A meeting held by telephone conference call,   videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method shall   be recorded.  The recording shall be made available to the public.     The board shall maintain a copy of the recording for at least one   year after the date of the hearing.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.