AUSTIN, Texas — Wichita Falls joins four other Texas cities in a lawsuit against the state seeking to declare part of the Texas Open Meetings Act unconstitutional. The Wichita Falls City Council voted Tuesday to join the lawsuit filed Monday in a Pecos federal court.
The plaintiffs, which include 15 elected officials, claim that the act violates elected officials' First Amendment free speech rights.
The act prohibits a quorum of members of a governmental body from deliberating in secret.
Plaintiffs argue that some communication — including e-mail or social media Web sites — by a quorum of elected officials should be allowed outside of a posted meeting.
Wichita Falls joins Alpine, Big Lake, Pflugerville and Rockport as co-plaintiffs.