Texas Legislature

Texas Supreme Court ruling helps bar the door to public release of company records

2016-05-04T13:51:30-05:00

By Dug Begley Houston Chronicle Originally published May 3, 2016 A Texas Supreme Court decision last year that one open records advocate said "blew a hole in the Texas Public Information Act" has been used in the past few months to shield records ranging from Uber's driver information in Houston to how much singer Enrique Iglesias was paid for a McAllen Christmas concert. The 7-1 decision, in the Boeing v. Paxton case, was issued on June 19. In it, the justices decided businesses can assert in Texas that information they turn over to a government agency that could give competitors an [...]

Texas Supreme Court ruling helps bar the door to public release of company records2016-05-04T13:51:30-05:00

County’s attorney wants limit on access to information without compensation

2016-04-25T16:53:49-05:00

By Cassie L. Smith Waco Tribune-Herald Originally published April 23, 2016 McLennan County’s attorney hopes leaders adopt a policy aimed at deterring “intentionally abusive” open records requests, while others say the move could be construed as having a chilling effect on access to public information. Attorney Mike Dixon, who represents McLennan County and its officeholders, said county staff is trying to process burdensome active requests before looking into a provision in the Texas Public Information Act that allows counties to charge high-volume requesters for staff time. “There’s an inherent flaw where government assumes that people are going to use the act [...]

County’s attorney wants limit on access to information without compensation2016-04-25T16:53:49-05:00

Court: Austin must ID private email addresses used for public business

2016-04-11T14:54:46-05:00

By Nolan Hicks Austin American-Statesman Originally published April 8, 2016 Public officials won’t be able to shield their personal email addresses from the public if they use the accounts for government business, a state appellate court ruled Friday. Government watchdogs hailed the decision as a win for government transparency and the state’s public records laws. The litigation stems from the “walking quorum” controversy that roiled Austin City Hall five years ago, involving accusations that City Council members violated the state’s transparency laws by conducting government business out of public view. None of the current City Council members were in office then. [...]

Court: Austin must ID private email addresses used for public business2016-04-11T14:54:46-05:00

Miller’s office withheld emails about ‘Jesus Shot’ trip

2016-04-07T13:41:10-05:00

By Brian M. Rosenthal Houston Chronicle Originally published April 1, 2016 Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller's office withheld public records that suggest he obtained a medical procedure known as "The Jesus Shot" on a taxpayer-funded trip to Oklahoma, the Houston Chronicle has learned. In response to a February public records request, Miller's office had said that no email messages about the trip existed, even though it had more than a dozen of them, a spokeswoman acknowledged Friday. The emails disprove Miller's initial account of the trip and show that he tried to set up work meetings for that day only after [...]

Miller’s office withheld emails about ‘Jesus Shot’ trip2016-04-07T13:41:10-05:00

City of McAllen continues to withhold parade information

2016-03-23T18:49:57-05:00

By Mitchell Ferman The Monitor Originally published March 22, 2016 The City of McAllen called The Monitor’s open records request for issued checks, documents and emails between city officials relating to the Enrique Iglesias concert in December 2015 a “backdoor” attempt to “circumvent” a previous ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The city complied with a portion of the request while deferring the rest of the request to an opinion from the attorney general. In a letter to the attorney general pertaining to the request, the city stated it will be negotiating similar contracts and documents with other performers in [...]

City of McAllen continues to withhold parade information2016-03-23T18:49:57-05:00

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