PIA

Texas must act now to repair damage to Public Information Act

2022-03-31T17:08:36-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas We Texans are fortunate when it comes to access to government information. Correction. We were fortunate. For more than 40 years, Texas’ open records law was one of the nation’s strongest. The Texas Public Information Act, originating during a time of scandal in the early 1970s, presumes all government records are available to citizens, unless there’s a specific exception preventing release of the document. But our modern era of openness shifted dramatically with two state Supreme Court decisions in 2015 known as the Boeing ruling and the Greater Houston Partnership [...]

Texas must act now to repair damage to Public Information Act2022-03-31T17:08:36-05:00

Some Texas lawmakers want to close open records loophole

2017-03-01T14:05:44-06:00

By Nicole Cobler San Antonio Express-News Originally published Feb. 28, 2017 Some state lawmakers are aiming to close an open records loophole in light of a 2015 Texas Supreme court ruling that allows governments to withhold records turned over to agencies by businesses. Lawmakers debated a slew of open records legislation in a Senate hearing Tuesday, including Sen. Kirk Watson’s bill that responds to the 2015 Boeing ruling by the state’s highest court, which blocked the release of some details of a lease between the Boeing Co. and the Port Authority of San Antonio because the aerospace manufacturer said making the [...]

Some Texas lawmakers want to close open records loophole2017-03-01T14:05:44-06:00

Senate committee hears Boeing, Greater Houston Partnership repair bills

2017-02-28T19:48:29-06:00

AUSTIN - Witnesses who support repairing the Texas Public Information Act and boosting citizens' access to records showing how taxpayer money is spent urged a state Senate committee Tuesday to rework parts of the act. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, in a hearing before the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, presented legislation that would strengthen the Public Information Act. Senate Bill 407 and Senate Bill 408, respectively, would undo two Texas Supreme Court decisions in 2015 known as the Boeing and the Greater Houston Partnership rulings. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is supporting the two bills as part of its major [...]

Senate committee hears Boeing, Greater Houston Partnership repair bills2017-02-28T19:48:29-06:00

Open Government Champions: Former teacher, Austin activist effectively uses Texas Public Information Act

2017-02-22T21:14:11-06:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in an occasional series of opinion pieces on legislators and other Texans who are openly committed to sustaining government transparency and accountability. The articles are being prepared and distributed by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Press Association. By Dave Montgomery As an elementary school teacher more than a decade ago, Zenobia Joseph often found herself wondering why students entered her fourth-grade class “unable to write a complete sentence.” For Joseph, who was chosen Teacher of the Year at Austin’s Norman Elementary School in 2005, it marked the start of a journey [...]

Open Government Champions: Former teacher, Austin activist effectively uses Texas Public Information Act2017-02-22T21:14:11-06:00

Senators vow to fight confidential agreements they had to sign before viewing vote complaints

2017-02-10T16:41:24-06:00

By Nicole Cobler San Antonio Express-News Originally published Feb. 9, 2017 AUSTIN — Two Texas senators are promising to fight confidential agreements they signed before being allowed to view voter fraud complaints reported to the secretary of state’s office. Their plan to make the information public follows newly nominated Secretary of State Rolando Pablos’ declaration in a Senate committee hearing last week that “there is voter fraud in Texas, and we’re doing everything we can to prevent it.” In response to Pablos’ statement, Democratic Sens. José Menéndez of San Antonio and Kirk Watson of Austin asked him to provide them with [...]

Senators vow to fight confidential agreements they had to sign before viewing vote complaints2017-02-10T16:41:24-06:00

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

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