foiftexas

About FOIFT

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far FOIFT has created 768 blog entries.

Spirit of FOI Awards open to broadcast, online and newspaper entries

2015-04-02T14:00:16-05:00

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is seeking entries for the annual Spirit of FOI Awards, which recognize outstanding journalism promoting open government and the public's right to know. This year the awards are open to television and radio stations and online news organizations as well as newspapers. Eligible work must have been published in 2014. Winners will be honored at the FOI Foundation of Texas annual conference Sept. 17 and will be chosen from two size categories: news organizations in markets over 500,000 population and those under 500,000 population. For more details go to the Spirit of FOI Award [...]

Spirit of FOI Awards open to broadcast, online and newspaper entries2015-04-02T14:00:16-05:00

House Elections Committee hears election notice bills

2015-03-30T22:30:19-05:00

The Texas House Elections Committee was hearing two bills Monday that would move election notice information from newspapers to government websites. House Bill 1499 by Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston,would allow a newspaper notice to state only a website address at which readers could go find election polling place locations, rather than listing all the locations. House Bill 2644 by Rep. Cesar Jose Blanco, D-El Paso, would allow election boundary locations to be listed online on a government website rather than in a newspaper. Blanco indicated he is willing to work with opponents of his bill to change its language. The Freedom [...]

House Elections Committee hears election notice bills2015-03-30T22:30:19-05:00

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records

2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

Editorial Tyler Morning Telegraph Originally published March 25, 2015 One of the best ideas to come out of this year’s Sunshine Week — a week dedicated to open and accountable government — is a bipartisan movement in Austin to change the way governing bodies such as cities and counties do economic development. An “Economic Development Transparency Coalition” has formed, calling on the Legislature to change the Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act to make economic development matters — like tax incentives and abatements — open to the public. The Coalition includes conservative groups, such as the Texas Public Policy [...]

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

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

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