85R24125 SRS-F     By: Smithee H.B. No. 2783       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the assessment of litigation costs and attorney fees in   certain lawsuits under the public information law.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 552.323(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  In an action brought under Section 552.321 or 552.3215,   the court shall assess costs of litigation and reasonable attorney   fees incurred by a plaintiff who substantially prevails or may   assess costs of litigation and reasonable attorney fees incurred by   a plaintiff to whom a governmental body voluntarily releases the   requested information after filing an answer to the suit, except   that the court may not assess those costs and fees against a   governmental body if the court finds that the governmental body   acted in reasonable reliance on:                (1)  a judgment or an order of a court applicable to the   governmental body;                (2)  the published opinion of an appellate court; or                (3)  a written decision of the attorney general,   including a decision issued under Subchapter G or an opinion issued   under Section 402.042.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to a suit filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A suit   filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law   in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and   that law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.