foiftexas

About FOIFT

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far FOIFT has created 765 blog entries.

Dallas Morning News Opinion Blog: Bill to make birth dates confidential is dead

2015-03-25T19:59:52-05:00

By Rodger Jones Dallas Morning News Originally published March 25, 2015 Just got off the phone with the office of Rep. Cindy Burkett to fact-check her bill (HB 2766) that would have amended the Texas Open Records Act to keep birth dates confidential. Here’s an unexpected fact I learned: Burkett will not ask for a hearing on this legislation, according to her chief of staff, Allison Billodeau. That means the bill is dead. That’s good for the public’s right to know. (It’s a semi-bummer for me, since I had an editorial written and ready to go on this proposal.) This is [...]

Dallas Morning News Opinion Blog: Bill to make birth dates confidential is dead2015-03-25T19:59:52-05:00

Senators hear testimony on police body cameras

2015-03-24T21:31:50-05:00

AUSTIN  _ Legislation that would supply and train Texas police officers with body cameras remains "a work in progress" but it's important to start debating the issue, Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, told a state Senate committee Tuesday. Confrontations involving police and citizens across the nation point to the potential usefulness of police body cameras, West said, adding the time "is ripe for public consideration." The Senate Criminal Justice Committee heard testimony on his Senate Bill 158, which West said sets out guidelines for local police agencies to use in setting body camera policies. He noted that a committee substitute and upcoming [...]

Senators hear testimony on police body cameras2015-03-24T21:31:50-05:00

After impromptu toll road debate, Dallas mayor warns of open meetings violation

2015-03-23T15:24:41-05:00

By Robert Wilonsky The Dallas Morning News Originally published March 20, 2015 Two weeks ago a couple of Dallas City Council members debated the pros and cons of a toll road between the Trinity River levees. And, as it turns out, Mayor Mike Rawlings isn’t happy about it. At all. On Wednesday he sent the council a memo telling them to stop talking about things that aren’t on the council’s agenda. Insists Rawlings, doing so violates the Texas Open Meetings Act. The toll road wasn’t on the council’s agenda, but the debate — pitting pro-roader Rick Callahan against Scott Griggs — [...]

After impromptu toll road debate, Dallas mayor warns of open meetings violation2015-03-23T15:24:41-05:00

Rep. Todd Hunter, FOIFT leaders talk open government with journalists at Sunshine Week briefing

2015-03-18T22:37:29-05:00

Journalists met with leaders of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, for a Sunshine Week briefing Wednesday on open government legislation pending at the state Capitol. "There's nothing wrong with providing public information," Hunter said, urging news reporters to educate their audience on "the positiveness and the common sense of these laws." Also speaking at the briefing at the Austin American-Statesman were FOI Foundation of Texas legislative co-chairs Laura Prather and Arif Panju. The foundation is tracking scores of bills this session that would improve public access to government information or, in some cases, [...]

Rep. Todd Hunter, FOIFT leaders talk open government with journalists at Sunshine Week briefing2015-03-18T22:37:29-05:00

Senate panel votes to classify private university police records as public

2015-03-17T20:40:09-05:00

Following violent incidents involving private university police officers, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday approved legislation that would classify those campus police records as public information. The committee voted 5-0 in favor of sending Senate Bill 308 by Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, to the full Senate. Robert Arnold, a reporter for KPRC-TV in Houston who reported on a videotaped beating of a man by Rice University police, testified on the bill. The 2013 beating was captured on a dash camera that Rice police refused to fully release to the public. The proposed legislation would make such records obtainable under the [...]

Senate panel votes to classify private university police records as public2015-03-17T20:40:09-05:00

CONTACT INFO

  • Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
    Kelley Shannon, Executive Director
    3001 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 302
    Austin, Texas 78705

  • (512) 377-1575

  • [email protected]

TEXAS FOI NEWS

QUICK LINKS

MENU

RESOURCES

© Copyright 2026 | The Freedom of Information Foundation | All Rights Reserved | by HelixSEO

Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top