Transparency

Texas’ highest criminal court strikes down a provision of Open Meetings Act as ‘constitutionally vague’

FOIFT2019-02-27T18:03:41-06:00

By Emma Platoff The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 27, 2019 In a major blow to the state’s government transparency laws, Texas’ highest criminal court has struck down a significant provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act, calling it “unconstitutionally vague.” That law, which imposes basic requirements providing for public access to and information about governmental meetings, makes it a crime for public officials to “knowingly [conspire] to circumvent this chapter by meeting in numbers less than a quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations.” That provision aims to keep public officials from convening smaller meetings — without an official quorum [...]

Texas’ highest criminal court strikes down a provision of Open Meetings Act as ‘constitutionally vague’FOIFT2019-02-27T18:03:41-06:00

Lawmakers file bill to repair Texas Public Information Act, help citizens track spending

FOIFT2019-02-25T19:16:07-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 21, 2019 AUSTIN – Two Texas lawmakers filed bipartisan legislation Thursday to strengthen the state’s Public Information Act and give Texans the ability to once again track the spending of taxpayer money. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, filed Senate Bill 943 and House Bill 2189, respectively. The identical pieces of legislation address citizens’ access to information contained in and surrounding state and local government contracts. The proposal takes into account months of work by the diverse Texas Sunshine Coalition as well as the competitive concerns of businesses and non-profits that contract with the [...]

Lawmakers file bill to repair Texas Public Information Act, help citizens track spendingFOIFT2019-02-25T19:16:07-06:00

Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial: What are SLAPP lawsuits and why do you need a law to protect you from them?

FOIFT2019-02-19T17:08:51-06:00

By Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial Board Originally published Feb. 15, 2019 Why would a law with the positive-sounding name Texas Citizens Participation Act be in danger? From whom? Should you be worried? The short answer to the last question is yes. You should be worried unless you are insanely rich and don't value the public good above your own. What does this law do? Before 2011, people, businesses and other organizations with deep pockets could make their critics go away by filing frivolous lawsuits. They were frivolous because their purpose was not so much to win in court as to bury [...]

Corpus Christi Caller-Times Editorial: What are SLAPP lawsuits and why do you need a law to protect you from them?FOIFT2019-02-19T17:08:51-06:00

Rep. Todd Hunter files two major transparency bills at Texas Capitol

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:26-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas Feb. 13, 2019 Two major bills in the FOI Foundation and Texas Sunshine Coalition open government legislative agenda have been filed by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi. House Bill 1655 would restore public access to dates of birth in many public documents, including criminal justice records and candidate applications. This helps to ensure accuracy in reporting and allows public vetting of politicians running for office. House Bill 1700, a bill that closes the "custodian loophole" in the Texas Public Information Act, would make it easer to obtain public records contained in officials' private devices or [...]

Rep. Todd Hunter files two major transparency bills at Texas CapitolFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:26-05:00

Commentary: Transparency, economic development regulations are dying in Texas

FOIFT2019-02-07T17:39:55-06:00

By Nathan M. Jensen and Calvin Thrall University of Texas Commentary in Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 6, 2019 Amazon’s search for a second headquarters, the so called HQ2, should make Texans concerned about the lack of transparency of economic development. Many cities have not released their HQ2 bids to the public, even though the competition is now complete. In Texas, none of our cities including Austin, Dallas and Houston has released its bid. But this lack of transparency is not limited to the competition for Amazon. Economic development policy is largely shielded from the public by Texas public records laws. [...]

Commentary: Transparency, economic development regulations are dying in TexasFOIFT2019-02-07T17:39:55-06:00

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