Texas Legislature

Transparency panel addresses open government concerns amid COVID-19 pandemic

FOIFT2020-10-07T23:38:19-05:00

Requestors seeking government records using the Texas Public Information Act are running into roadblocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. A panel of journalists and open government experts addressed their concerns and questions during an online policy discussion Wednesday hosted by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini and co-hosted by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the Texas Association of Broadcasters and the Texas Press Association. View a recording of online event on the senator's Facebook page. Several questions from audience members centered on government offices saying they are not filling Public Information Act requests because their offices are closed or are operating on [...]

Transparency panel addresses open government concerns amid COVID-19 pandemicFOIFT2020-10-07T23:38:19-05:00

Join Texas open government webinar Wednesday, Oct. 7

FOIFT2020-10-06T16:26:30-05:00

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and other open government advocates are joining Sen. Judith Zaffirini for a free online webinar she is hosting tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 1:30 p.m. Panelists include Sen. Zaffirini; Justin Gordon, chief of the attorney general's office open records division; investigative journalist Jaie Avila of WOAI-TV in San Antonio; and moderator Julie Fine of KXAS-TV in Fort Worth-Dallas. Register in advance at http://bit.ly/TXPressZoom.

Join Texas open government webinar Wednesday, Oct. 7FOIFT2020-10-06T16:26:30-05:00

Government transparency is another casualty of COVID-19

FOIFT2020-10-05T19:42:13-05:00

By John TedescoHouston ChronicleOriginally published Sept. 30, 2020 Open government advocates say transparency in Texas has taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic as officials across the state say their offices are closed and workloads are too heavy to respond to requests for public information. Read the full story here.

Government transparency is another casualty of COVID-19FOIFT2020-10-05T19:42:13-05:00

KSAT Q&A with attorney Paul Watler about releasing police body camera footage

FOIFT2020-10-05T19:38:10-05:00

Originally aired by KSAT-TV on Sept. 21, 2020 SAN ANTONIO – There is a renewed push for law enforcement transparency both nationally and locally. In Bexar County, two deadly shootings and a wrongful arrest have sparked controversy over when law enforcement releases body camera footage to the public. Paul Walter, attorney and board member of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, joined KSAT Q&As to talk about why some footage isn’t released in a timely manner. See the video here.

KSAT Q&A with attorney Paul Watler about releasing police body camera footageFOIFT2020-10-05T19:38:10-05:00

Travis County trying to withhold information about its opposition to open records legislation

FOIFT2020-07-14T22:26:19-05:00

By John EngelKXANOriginally published July 13, 2020 Travis County will ask the Attorney General’s office whether it can withhold communication about a police transparency bill that the county registered in opposition to in 2019. In response to a KXAN public information request regarding county communication about House Bill 147, which aimed to close the so-called dead suspect loophole, a county attorney said he will request guidance from the Attorney General as to whether the information has to be released under public records law. The loophole is an exemption in Texas public records law that allows law enforcement agencies to withhold information [...]

Travis County trying to withhold information about its opposition to open records legislationFOIFT2020-07-14T22:26:19-05:00

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