Houston mayor adds emergency item on council agenda post-windstorm

On May 20, 2024, Mayor John Whitmire authorized an emergency item to be added to this week's Houston City Council agenda. The item is intended to extend the local state of disaster following last week’s windstorm, also known as a derecho. This action was taken in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act.

The Act stipulates that certain members of the media must be notified of such emergency items. As per Section 551.047 of the Act, "The presiding officer of a governmental body, or the member of a governmental body who calls an emergency meeting of the governmental body or adds an emergency item to the agenda of a meeting of the governmental body, shall notify the news media of the emergency meeting or emergency item as required by this section."

The Act further details that only those members of the news media who have previously filed at the headquarters of the governmental body a request containing all pertinent information for special notice and agreed to reimburse the governmental body for providing such notice are required to be notified.

The notification must be given by telephone, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail at least one hour before convening the meeting.