In a case is before the Texas Court of Appeals, officials from Alpine, Texas, claim that criminal penalties stemming from their violation of the state open meetings law have had a “chilling effect” on their free speech.

Sean Jordan, representing the state Attorney General, countered that the purpose of the law is not to curtail free speech by elected officials, but to require the disclosure of that speech to the public. “These laws are designed to ensure government officials don’t get into a practice of deliberating in private,” Jordan said.

Lawyers for state, cities clash over open meetings penalties – Houston Chronicle.