Transparency

Former Angelina County judge found guilty of violating Open Meetings Act

2023-06-28T16:32:42-05:00

By KTRE Digital Media Staff Originally published June 28, 2023 LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - A former Angelina County judge has been found guilty of violating the open meetings act following his trial. Don Lymbery, the former Angelina County judge, was indicted in March 2022 along with two other county authorities in connection with violating the open meeting act. The charge stems from an Aug. 9, 2021, meeting of the three men in Lymbery’s office. Lymbery denied any wrongdoing, claiming the conversation between the three did not include county business and added that he had to leave his office for an interview [...]

Former Angelina County judge found guilty of violating Open Meetings Act2023-06-28T16:32:42-05:00

Law closing police loophole in Public Information Act to take effect Sept. 1

2023-07-07T14:37:30-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas A loophole in the Texas Public Information Act that many law enforcement departments use to withhold records when someone dies in police custody will be closed with a new law taking effect Sept. 1. House Bill 30 by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, passed both the Texas House and Senate and resulted in a compromise bill that won final approval in both chambers. Gov. Greg Abbott allowed it to become law without his signature as his veto period ended Sunday, June 18. No longer will police departments be able to [...]

Law closing police loophole in Public Information Act to take effect Sept. 12023-07-07T14:37:30-05:00

Transparency bill containing TPIA improvements moves ahead in Texas Legislature

2023-05-24T21:20:47-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas The Texas Senate has passed a major transparency bill that would protect the rights of information requestors and help ensure the Texas Public Information Act is carried out consistently statewide. House Bill 3033 by Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, had already won passage in the Texas House. It was sponsored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, in the Senate and won approval in that chamber Tuesday. It now returns to the House for a vote on concurrence with Senate amendments. A major provision in the bill was amended in the Texas House by Rep. Terry [...]

Transparency bill containing TPIA improvements moves ahead in Texas Legislature2023-05-24T21:20:47-05:00

Texas Senate committee approves bill closing the ‘dead suspect loophole’ in TPIA

2023-05-19T18:25:28-05:00

By Kelley Shannon FOI Foundation of Texas Legislation that would close a loophole in the Texas Public Information Act used by some police departments to withhold records when a person dies in custody won approval in a Senate committee Friday. House Bill 30 by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, was set for a sudden hearing in the Senate Business and Commerce Committee and won passage Friday morning. It next moves to the full Texas Senate. The measure passed the Texas House earlier this month. King said the "heavily negotiated" bill was [...]

Texas Senate committee approves bill closing the ‘dead suspect loophole’ in TPIA2023-05-19T18:25:28-05:00

Police used loophole in Texas law to withhold records from deceased soldier’s family

2023-05-17T09:10:20-05:00

By Vianna Davila ProPublica, co-published with The Texas Tribune Originally published May 9, 2023 Texas public records law allows officials to withhold police records if no one was convicted in a case. At least one city has used this rule to deny the release of suicide records. A new bill aims to close this loophole. When Patty Troyan’s son Logan Castello died by suicide in November 2019 in his Central Texas home, she immediately tried to understand what prompted him to take his own life not long after getting married and days before a planned family Thanksgiving gathering. Castello was a [...]

Police used loophole in Texas law to withhold records from deceased soldier’s family2023-05-17T09:10:20-05:00
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