{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-551.143","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 551.143","heading":"PROHIBITED SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS; OFFENSE; PENALTY.","body":"(a) A member of a governmental body commits an offense if the member:\n(1) knowingly engages in at least one communication among a series of communications that each occur outside of a meeting authorized by this chapter and that concern an issue within the jurisdiction of the governmental body in which the members engaging in the individual communications constitute fewer than a quorum of members but the members engaging in the series of communications constitute a quorum of members; and\n(2) knew at the time the member engaged in the communication that the series of communications:\n(A) involved or would involve a quorum; and\n(B) would constitute a deliberation once a quorum of members engaged in the series of communications.\n(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:\n(1) a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;\n(2) confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months; or\n(3) both the fine and confinement.\nAdded by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.\nAmended by:\nActs 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 645 (S.B. 1640), Sec. 2, eff. June 10, 2019.\nActs 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 645 (S.B. 1640), Sec. 3, eff. June 10, 2019.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 5. OPEN GOVERNMENT; ETHICS","SUBTITLE A. OPEN GOVERNMENT","CHAPTER 551. OPEN MEETINGS","SUBCHAPTER G. ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES; CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.551.htm#551.143","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"64a7690aaa13e462a6f58c60d2b327358f9dd42008ce2aeae424b02fc652f5de","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-551.142","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-551.144"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}