---
id: KL-0701
title: "The Watch"
part: "VII. The Watch"
version: "0.1 (early draft)"
last_checked: 2026-11-08
status: coming
html: https://keepittexas.org/watch/
---

# The Watch

> **COMING.** Nothing is being tracked on this site yet.

## What the Watch will be

We will track public records that show when a local business gets an outside owner. Each one will be a lead to check, never an accusation. We will not name people.

## Records we plan to read first

- The yearly Public Information Report. Many Texas corporations and LLCs send one to the Comptroller each year. It names any company that owns 10 percent or more of them, and the law says it is open to public inspection.
- New sales tax permits. The Comptroller publishes a list of recently issued permits as open data.

We will add more records as we check them. See [KL-0702](/book/kl-0702/).

## What a signal will not be

> **Not proof** Many outside buyers are honest and good for a town. A change in a record is a reason to ask a question, nothing more. See [KL-0704](/book/kl-0704/).

## Sources

- [Texas Comptroller, Public Information Report form 05-102](https://comptroller.texas.gov/forms/05-102-a-16.pdf)
- [Texas Comptroller, who files the Public Information Report](https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/pir-oir-filing-req.php)
- [Texas Tax Code 171.203, Public Information Report (what it lists)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.171.htm)
- [Texas Tax Code 171.207, information in the report is open to public inspection](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TX/htm/TX.171.htm)
- [Texas Comptroller, Recent Active Sales Tax Permit Holders (open data)](https://comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/open-data/recent-sales-tax-permits/)