Summary
House Bill 5195 from the 89th Legislative Session, now enacted into Texas Government Code 2054, Subchapter S, requires state agencies, including institutions of higher education, to assess and improve their online platforms including websites and digital service portals for accessibility, navigation, usability, and efficiency.
Body
House Bill 5195 from the 89th Legislative Session, now enacted into Texas Government Code 2054, Subchapter S, requires state agencies, including institutions of higher education, to assess and improve their online platforms including websites and digital service portals for accessibility, navigation, usability, and efficiency.
What are State agencies required to do?
HB 5195 directs state agencies to assess their online platforms and identify ways to improve them. DIR has published this fact sheet to help agencies understand the requirements of this new statute. Specifically, state agencies are required to consider:
- Exchanging paper requirements for digital alternatives;
- Complying with accessibility standards;
- Improving responsiveness for mobile and desktop users; and
- Adopting best practices for search functionality, page load speed, and service integration.
To make reporting on these initiatives easier for agencies, DIR will be asking agencies to report on these initiatives through the 2026 Information Resources Deployment Review.
DIR resources for State agencies
HB 5195 directs DIR to provide guidance, technical assistance, best practices, and website templates. DIR has developed a Website Modernization webpage on our website to house all guidance and information related to HB 5195. This webpage contains all resources available to agencies for these modernization initiatives including Website Modernization Best Practices, website templates (upon request), design guides, and implementation resources.
DIR will communicate updates through their mailing list as well as via webinars, newsletters, social media, and the DIR website to ensure that as broad of an audience as possible has access to all available information and resources.
Article and resources provided by Texas Department of Information Resources.