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Katy ISD trustees: Freedom of speech restricted by school board

2016-11-14T16:46:33-06:00

By Sebastian Herrera Houston Chronicle Originally published Nov. 13, 2016 Two trustees on the Katy school board believe their First Amendment rights are being infringed by a written board procedure that only allows the board president to speak to the media. The long-standing procedure suggests that elected officials should filter information to the public and act as a unified voice despite different opinions on district matters. It is scheduled to be discussed by trustees in the suburban west Houston district on Monday after new board member George Scott threatened legal action. Katy ISD voters elected Scott in May after he ran [...]

Katy ISD trustees: Freedom of speech restricted by school board2016-11-14T16:46:33-06:00

Open Meetings Act trial for Montgomery County officials, consultant reset for March 27

2016-11-03T14:58:24-05:00

Three Montgomery County elected officials and a political consultant facing charges of conspiring to circumvent the Texas Open Meetings Act will have to wait at least five more months to have their day in court. Judge Randy Clapp of Wharton County set March 27, 2017 as the new trial date for Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal, County Commissioners Charlie Riley and Jim Clark and political consultant Marc Davenport. Clapp, a visiting judge, reset the trial date following a conference involving all parties in the case. The trial, originally set to begin Monday, was pushed back in part due to scheduling issues [...]

Open Meetings Act trial for Montgomery County officials, consultant reset for March 272016-11-03T14:58:24-05:00

Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings Act

2016-10-28T15:55:53-05:00

By Catherine Dominguez Houston Chronicle Originally published Oct. 24, 2016 Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack is proposing a digital public message board that would allow the commissioners to communicate publicly outside a called meeting. While County Judge Craig Doyal said he sees some benefits, he said he isn't sure all the commissioners would use a digital message board. The court was scheduled to discuss the item at Tuesday's meeting. For Noack, it would help provide more transparency of county business. A quorum of commissioners discussing county business outside a publicly called meeting is prohibited by the Texas Open Meetings Act. In [...]

Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings Act2016-10-28T15:55:53-05:00

FOI Foundation offers Nov. 16 Open Government Seminar in Denton

2016-11-03T15:00:34-05:00

AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will host an Open Government Seminar in Denton in November featuring training in public meetings and public records laws. The non-profit FOI Foundation, in cooperation with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the Mayborn School of Journalism at UNT, will offer the one-day seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 16. It is designed for government employees, journalists, attorneys and members of the general public interested in the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act. “This seminar highlighting Texas’ open government laws helps to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities as [...]

FOI Foundation offers Nov. 16 Open Government Seminar in Denton2016-11-03T15:00:34-05:00

Open Government Champions: Capriglione pushes ahead with transparency agenda in Legislature

2016-08-24T16:46:11-05:00

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 During the 2015 Texas Legislature, while most other transparency and ethics reform proposals were headed toward the trash heap, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione secured near-unanimous passage of a new law that has enabled the public to see who benefits financially from dealings with the government. His victory in pushing through House Bill [...]

Open Government Champions: Capriglione pushes ahead with transparency agenda in Legislature2016-08-24T16:46:11-05:00
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