Texas Legislature

Celebrate ‘Sunshine Week,’ cherish Texas transparency

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:39-05:00

By Kelley Shannon FOI Foundation of Texas March 14, 2016 We Texans have a history of straight talk and openness, and our state’s public information laws reflect it. Shining light on our government allows democracy to flourish. As we celebrate that light during national Sunshine Week from March 13-19, let’s be thankful that Texas laws value the public’s right to know through broad access to records and meetings. But we cannot grow complacent. We must fight to keep the laws strong. Every year, there are attempts to chip away at our Texas transparency in the courts, at the Legislature and in [...]

Celebrate ‘Sunshine Week,’ cherish Texas transparencyFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:39-05:00

Texas AG’s office lets Baylor keep sexual assault investigations secret

FOIFT2016-02-17T20:35:40-06:00

By Bobby Blanchard The Dallas Morning News Originally published Feb. 12, 2016 AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office issued an opinion earlier this week allowing Baylor University to keep investigations into recent sexual assaults at Baylor University secret. Because the victims have came forward and identified themselves to ESPN, an assistant to the attorney general wrote in an opinion that releasing the information would violate common law privacy. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said he disagreed with the opinion. “I totally disagree,” said Coleman, who helped pass the bill that made police departments at private Texas universities respond to open [...]

Texas AG’s office lets Baylor keep sexual assault investigations secretFOIFT2016-02-17T20:35:40-06:00

Court: State can deny fund for ‘Machete’ movie producers

FOIFT2016-02-01T17:05:44-06:00

By Jamie Lovegrove The Texas Tribune Originally published Jan. 29, 2016 A Texas appeals court ruled Friday that the Texas Film Commission acted within its authority when it decided after the release of the film "Machete" to deny its producers state incentive funds because of the movie's negative portrayal of Texas. The 2010 Robert Rodriguez film starred Danny Trejo as a former Mexican Federale turned vigilante who accepts a hit contract from a corrupt Texas state senator before being used as a pawn in the senator’s hardline immigration policies. Filmed in and around Austin, the movie was theoretically eligible for a [...]

Court: State can deny fund for ‘Machete’ movie producersFOIFT2016-02-01T17:05:44-06:00

Texas didn’t violate First Amendment when it denied film grant, court rules

FOIFT2016-01-04T15:41:54-06:00

By John Council Texas Lawyer Originally published Dec. 31, 2015 Texas officials did not forbid the producers of a B-grade action movie from filming inside the Lone Star State but "merely opted not to subsidize the film with Texas taxpayer funds," according to Judge Catharina Haynes. In a ruling certain to disappoint those who want to film B-grade action movies in Texas on the cheap, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has ruled that the producers of "Machete Kills" don't have a First Amendment right to an incentive grant from the Texas Film Commission. The background to the [...]

Texas didn’t violate First Amendment when it denied film grant, court rulesFOIFT2016-01-04T15:41:54-06:00

State Integrity Investigation gives Texas an F in public information access

FOIFT2015-11-09T16:09:27-06:00

The latest State Integrity Investigation conducted by the non-profit Center for Public Integrity gives Texas a D- overall and an F in public access to information. Veteran Texas journalist David Montgomery conducted the study for our state. Read the news story and see the rankings on the CPI or Texas Tribune websites.

State Integrity Investigation gives Texas an F in public information accessFOIFT2015-11-09T16:09:27-06:00

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