Texas Legislature

TPIA rulings database required by recently enacted law now available on AG website

2024-01-05T18:58:01-06:00

A newly enacted state law requires the Texas Attorney General's Office to make available to the public a searchable database of attorney general rulings issued under the Texas Public Information Act. The database, called for in House Bill 3033, is now available on the agency's website. The law said the database was to be accessible to the public no later than Jan. 1, 2024. The link to the Public Information Act database can be found on the AG's Open Records Letter Rulings page. Previously, letter rulings were posted on the page in lengthy lists without the new search functions.  

TPIA rulings database required by recently enacted law now available on AG website2024-01-05T18:58:01-06:00

FOI Foundation’s 2023 conference videos now available online

2023-10-04T10:07:03-05:00

Video recordings from the 2023 Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas annual state conference, held in Austin on Sept. 28, are now available online via the foundation's YouTube channel or the FOIFT website. The recordings are free for everyone to view. Here's the link to the FOIFT website page containing the links to the videos: https://foift.org/about/video/  

FOI Foundation’s 2023 conference videos now available online2023-10-04T10:07:03-05:00

Federal judge temporarily blocks new Texas book-rating law

2023-08-31T16:26:45-05:00

By Edward McKinley San Antonio Express-News Originally published Aug. 31, 2023 A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a new Texas law that would establish a book-rating system and ban or restrict books with sexual content from Texas public schools. Austin-based Judge Alan D. Albright told lawyers that the state could not enforce the law when it was planned to take effect Friday, according to a spokesperson for plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit. The judge said he intends to publish a written order in the coming weeks blocking it entirely. Read the full story here.  

Federal judge temporarily blocks new Texas book-rating law2023-08-31T16:26:45-05:00

Law closing police loophole in Public Information Act to take effect Sept. 1

2023-07-07T14:37:30-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas A loophole in the Texas Public Information Act that many law enforcement departments use to withhold records when someone dies in police custody will be closed with a new law taking effect Sept. 1. House Bill 30 by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, passed both the Texas House and Senate and resulted in a compromise bill that won final approval in both chambers. Gov. Greg Abbott allowed it to become law without his signature as his veto period ended Sunday, June 18. No longer will police departments be able to [...]

Law closing police loophole in Public Information Act to take effect Sept. 12023-07-07T14:37:30-05:00

Texas Legislature approves open government bills in 2023 session’s final days

2023-07-07T14:11:12-05:00

For Immediate Release May 29, 2023 Texas Legislature approves open government bills in session’s final days  AUSTIN – Major transparency initiatives shoring up the Texas Public Information Act won approval in the state Legislature before the session’s final day Monday. The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. A measure by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, that won final passage Sunday night would close a legal loophole used by some police departments to withhold records when a person dies in police custody or in other interactions with law enforcement. House Bill 30, which had been debated in previous sessions, took on [...]

Texas Legislature approves open government bills in 2023 session’s final days2023-07-07T14:11:12-05:00
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