TO:	Honorable Kelly Hancock, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB859 by Johnson (Relating to the authority of certain water planning entities to hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call or videoconference call.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Water Code to allow regional water planning groups, regional flood planning groups, and committees or subcommittees of these groups to hold open or closed meetings via telephone or videoconference call. The calls would be subject to the Open Meetings Act. The bill would take effect September 1, 2021.

Based on information provided by the Texas Water Development Board, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.