FOIFT, Author at Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

Texas House approves TPIA required response bill, helping to inform requestors

FOIFT2025-05-02T11:28:00-05:00

The Texas House passed HB 4219 on Friday by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, backed by the FOI Foundation of Texas and the Texas Sunshine Coalition. The bill now moves on to the Texas Senate. The legislation requires governments to reply to public information requestors even if there are no responsive records or when the governmental body has a previous ruling by the attorney general's office allowing it to legally withhold the documents. It's good customer service and common sense and keeps requestors from wondering why they're being ignored. Currently, many governments don't respond to requestors in these situations, and some ignore requestors [...]

Texas House approves TPIA required response bill, helping to inform requestorsFOIFT2025-05-02T11:28:00-05:00

Houston Chronicle editorial: Keep Texas free speech strong. Leave anti-SLAPP laws alone.

FOIFT2025-04-23T08:17:26-05:00

By Editorial Board Houston Chronicle Originally published April 23, 2025 A couple, upset that their pet-sitting company left their beloved fish swimming in dirty water, takes to the internet to write a negative review. The company files a $1 million libel suit. A homeowner writes a strongly worded open letter to his homeowners association criticizing how they’ve squandered neighborhood funds. The HOA sues him for slander in retaliation. A media investigation reveals that a respected doctor did not follow protocol in their research. The doctor sues for defamation. These cases are known as SLAPPs, or “strategic lawsuits against public participation.” They discourage the [...]

Houston Chronicle editorial: Keep Texas free speech strong. Leave anti-SLAPP laws alone.FOIFT2025-04-23T08:17:26-05:00

FOI Column: Shining light on government brings together all kinds of Texans

FOIFT2025-03-14T13:46:53-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas What unites Texans of all political persuasions is the nonpartisan principle that our government must operate in the sunlight. We have the right – and responsibility – to keep watch on how tax money is spent and how public officials make decisions. But it takes access to information to do it. Our state transparency laws envision citizens having power over government. Every legislative session, updates and improvements are needed so that the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act function as intended. The Texas Sunshine Coalition, representing 16 organizations [...]

FOI Column: Shining light on government brings together all kinds of TexansFOIFT2025-03-14T13:46:53-05:00

The truth about the Texas Citizens Participation Act

FOIFT2025-02-10T15:32:31-06:00

By Robert Sherwin and Laura Prather The Texas Lawbook Originally published Feb. 6, 2025 Below is an excerpt from the article. Read the full story here. -- The truth is that the TCPA allows Texans to speak freely on matters of public concern without having to fear reprisal from powerful interests. The TCPA allows for an expedited motion to dismiss baseless lawsuits in order to spare Texas citizens from intrusive and expensive legal proceedings. To ensure that protection, the TCPA includes an automatic stay of discovery and the right to pursue an interlocutory appeal of a trial court’s decision. The law [...]

The truth about the Texas Citizens Participation ActFOIFT2025-02-10T15:32:31-06:00

How a Texas bill endangers “SLAPP” victims and their free speech rights

FOIFT2025-02-06T10:57:37-06:00

By JT Morris and Caroline Divver Law.com Originally published Jan. 27, 2025 There is no better example of a proposal that endangers the Texas Citizens Participation Act than just-filed Texas Senate Bill 336. This is not the first time a bill has targeted the automatic stay. Read the full story here at Law.com.

How a Texas bill endangers “SLAPP” victims and their free speech rightsFOIFT2025-02-06T10:57:37-06:00

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