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Deadline for entering Spirit of FOI Award contest is Friday

2015-05-04T15:07:56-05:00

Texas journalists have until Friday to enter the 2015 Spirit of FOI Award contest, which recognizes outstanding efforts to promote open government and the First Amendment. This year's contest is open to newspaper, radio and television stations and online news organizations. Entries must have been published or broadcast in 2014. Winners will be honored at the FOI Foundation of Texas annual conference Sept. 17 in Austin. Click here for contest details. The deadline for entries is midnight Friday, May 8.

Deadline for entering Spirit of FOI Award contest is Friday2015-05-04T15:07:56-05:00

Private college police bill among open government proposals this week at Texas Capitol

2015-04-30T14:55:12-05:00

The Texas House Higher Education Committee heard testimony this week on Senate Bill 308, which would make private college campus police records accessible to the public. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, sponsored the measure in the House. The bill originated with Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, following a videotaped beating of a man by Rice University police. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and other open government advocates are supporting the bill. On Wednesday, before the House committee, Dallas Morning News reporter Melissa Repko and KPRC-TV reporter Robert Arnold of Houston testified, respectively, on their experiences covering police at Southern Methodist University [...]

Private college police bill among open government proposals this week at Texas Capitol2015-04-30T14:55:12-05:00

Open government bills moving forward, getting hearings at Texas Capitol

2015-04-24T15:21:12-05:00

This week Texas legislators were busy hearing bills both good and bad for open government and freedom of information as end-of-session legislative deadlines loom. The House Judiciary and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved HB 1766 by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, that allows for continued reporting by the news media on third party allegations of wrongdoing. The Senate, meanwhile, passed its version of the bill, SB 627 by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. These bills are positive for the public's right to know. A rough bill for open government is HB 1118 by Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy, which would allow government officials to [...]

Open government bills moving forward, getting hearings at Texas Capitol2015-04-24T15:21:12-05:00

Texas Senate approves third party allegation reporting bill

2015-04-22T17:21:31-05:00

The Texas Senate approved legislation Wednesday that allows journalists to accurately report on third party allegations on matters of public importance. Senate Bill 627 by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, was agreed upon by the Texas Press Association, Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and others. It clarifies a recent Texas Supreme Court decision and allows reporting on allegations that shine light on such matters as contracting wrongdoing, youth commission abuse and mistreatment of special education students. A similar measure, House Bill 1766, is pending in a House committee.

Texas Senate approves third party allegation reporting bill2015-04-22T17:21:31-05:00

Legislators consider bill allowing for reporting on wrongdoing allegations

2015-04-21T20:33:42-05:00

Legislation by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, that would allow continued accurate news reporting on wrongdoing allegations went before the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee on Tuesday. News organizations, trial lawyers and other groups have agreed on updates to House Bill 1766. The bill clarifies a recent Texas Supreme Court decision and codifies what has been common law for more than two decades. First Amendment attorney Laura Prather, a board member of the FOI Foundation of Texas, explained that under the proposed legislation reporters could continue reporting on allegations involving matters of public interest such as the 21CT contracting scandal; [...]

Legislators consider bill allowing for reporting on wrongdoing allegations2015-04-21T20:33:42-05:00

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