AUSTIN (KXAN) – Edinburg Republican Aaron Pena is, by far, the top Tweeter among lawmakers at the Texas Capitol with nearly 7,000 messages to date – most in the six months since re-election. But a bill now pending in a House committee could soon slow his habit. The measure would ban public officials in Texas from sending any electronic message during public meetings. HB 2977 ‘s author says it brings the Texas Open Meetings Act into the digital age. “I also think it’s very rude to come in if you’re a witness in a testimony provided in committee, I should be listening and looking at you, not on my Blackberry,” said Rep. Todd Hunter , R-Corpus Christi.
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AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House has passed a bill that would protect free speech by barring frivolous lawsuits. The bill by Republican state Rep. Todd Hunter allows defendants to request an expedited dismissal, if the suit is deemed a frivolous attempt to prevent that person from exercising their legal rights. According to Hunter, the bill is designed to encourage participation in public debate. {read more}
