Attorney General Ken Paxton has finalized an agreement with the Travis County Commissioners Court, mandating their adherence to the Texas Open Meetings Act and other transparency laws.
"Government cannot be transparent if its elected leaders secretly vote on important matters that are required by Texas law to be discussed in an open meeting," stated Attorney General Paxton. "This judgment requires the Travis County Commissioners Court to abide by all government transparency laws."
The legal action began in September 2024 when Attorney General Paxton sued the Travis County Commissioners Court for allegedly breaching the Texas Open Meetings Act. The lawsuit claimed that the court held a secret discussion regarding a measure to allocate public funds for security improvements at District Attorney Jose Garza's residence. On March 19, 2024, without proper notice or public access, they reportedly conducted an executive session on "security issues" and subsequently voted to allocate $115,000 from the general fund for this purpose.
Following the lawsuit, the court revisited the topic with appropriate public notice as required by Texas law. The commissioners have now agreed voluntarily to comply with all relevant transparency laws, ensuring public participation in local governance.
To read the agreed final judgment, click here.