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Newly enacted Texas law to shine light on spending of taxpayer money

FOIFT2020-01-06T17:18:49-06:00

By Asher PriceAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 3, 2020 How much taxpayer money did the University of Texas pay the rapper Ludacris to perform after a spring football game last year? Or how much money is the Teacher Retirement System paying for new digs in downtown Austin? Public entities declined to release information that would answer either of these questions, posed by the American-Statesman, citing rulings handed down by the Texas Supreme Court in 2015. They were among dozens of requests the Statesman made under the Texas Public Information Act over the past four years that were denied, citing the same rulings. [...]

Newly enacted Texas law to shine light on spending of taxpayer moneyFOIFT2020-01-06T17:18:49-06:00

FOI Foundation files amicus brief in gag order case stemming from Amber Guyger trial

FOIFT2019-12-06T17:55:25-06:00

By Dana BranhamThe Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published Dec. 5, 2019 Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot filed a motion Thursday seeking dismissal of his contempt case, in which he is accused of violating a gag order in the murder trial of former Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger for the fatal shooting of Botham Jean. State District Judge Tammy Kemp, who presided over Guyger’s trial, filed a show-cause order in October requiring Creuzot to appear in court to explain why he should not be held in contempt for giving an interview to KDFW-TV about the case. In the order, Kemp said the [...]

FOI Foundation files amicus brief in gag order case stemming from Amber Guyger trialFOIFT2019-12-06T17:55:25-06:00

Sunshine Week: Free speech, public’s right to know under attack in Texas, so let’s act now

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:25-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas We Texans are fiercely independent and like to make our views known. On that, surely, we can agree. Using our First Amendment right to speak out goes hand in hand with access to public information that helps us understand how our government functions. Unfortunately, both basic American principles – free speech and the people’s right to know – are under attack in Texas. There’s no better time to urge our state lawmakers to protect these precious freedoms than “Sunshine Week,” March 10-16, a nationwide celebration of open government. The Texas Sunshine Coalition, [...]

Sunshine Week: Free speech, public’s right to know under attack in Texas, so let’s act nowFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:25-05:00

Legislators hear testimony on closing police loophole in Texas Public Information Act

FOIFT2019-02-28T05:52:46-06:00

AUSTIN _ The parents of teens and young adults who died in police custody urged the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday to close a loophole in the Public Information Act so they can access records about their loved ones' deaths. "Government transparency is government transparency, even when it's not pretty," said House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody, D-El Paso, as he explained the need for his House Bill 147. "It's better for people to know the truth, even if it's ugly and complicated and challenging." The legislation would prevent law enforcement agencies from withholding records in cases that did not [...]

Legislators hear testimony on closing police loophole in Texas Public Information ActFOIFT2019-02-28T05:52:46-06:00

Texas’ highest criminal court strikes down a provision of Open Meetings Act as ‘constitutionally vague’

FOIFT2019-02-27T18:03:41-06:00

By Emma Platoff The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 27, 2019 In a major blow to the state’s government transparency laws, Texas’ highest criminal court has struck down a significant provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act, calling it “unconstitutionally vague.” That law, which imposes basic requirements providing for public access to and information about governmental meetings, makes it a crime for public officials to “knowingly [conspire] to circumvent this chapter by meeting in numbers less than a quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations.” That provision aims to keep public officials from convening smaller meetings — without an official quorum [...]

Texas’ highest criminal court strikes down a provision of Open Meetings Act as ‘constitutionally vague’FOIFT2019-02-27T18:03:41-06:00

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