By Daniel Van Oudenaren
The Austin Bulldog
Originally published Nov. 10, 2021

Advocates who pushed for changes to Texas’s public information laws at the legislature this year are celebrating a handful of wins but fell short on some of their agenda.

Two new transparency laws took effect September 1st, the fruit of a bipartisan effort: Senate Bill 930 by state Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), which ensures that families of nursing home residents have access to information about outbreaks of communicable diseases within the facilities; and Senate Bill 1225 by Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston), which tightens the catastrophe exception in Texas Public Information Act.

Judith Zaffirini

But at least seven other bills called for by journalists, media lawyers and other stakeholders fell short. Read the full story here.