Transparency

A case study: Getting public records is getting harder in Texas

FOIFT2023-02-23T14:31:43-06:00

By Caroline Love KERA Originally published Feb. 15, 2023 Editor’s note: After reports that Collin County Constable Joe Wright’s name had appeared on a membership list for an antigovernment extremist group, KERA government accountability reporter Caroline Love wanted to find out more about him. She obtained records from the Collin County Sheriff’s Office — where Wright had once worked — only after a lengthy open records battle. We asked her to find out if her experiences are symptomatic of a bigger problem. Texas citizens and journalists often face drawn-out legal battles over open records requests. Advocates for transparency in government say [...]

A case study: Getting public records is getting harder in TexasFOIFT2023-02-23T14:31:43-06:00

Texas Public Information Act’s 50th anniversary an excellent time to strengthen the landmark law

FOIFT2023-02-01T09:19:32-06:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Fifty years ago, responding to public demand in an era of reform, Texas enacted a sweeping law ensuring the people’s right to know about their government. The Texas Public Information Act – originally known as the Open Records Act when it passed in 1973 – was one of the strongest transparency laws in the nation. It allowed Texans to hold their state and local governments accountable by obtaining all sorts of public records. “The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is [...]

Texas Public Information Act’s 50th anniversary an excellent time to strengthen the landmark lawFOIFT2023-02-01T09:19:32-06:00

Texas Sunshine Coalition members unite for open government

FOIFT2023-03-22T12:44:32-05:00

The Texas Sunshine Coalition is a diverse group of 18 organizations recognizing the need to strengthen state transparency laws. Access to government information allows us to hold government accountable. All Texans deserve to know how our leaders are conducting business and spending taxpayer dollars. Coalition members work with lawmakers of both political parties, encouraging a bipartisan approach to open government. The Texas Sunshine Coalition will support transparency measures in the 2023 Legislature centered on these initiatives: Contracting Transparency Although the Legislature passed Senate Bill 943 in 2019 to increase public access to government contracts after a troublesome Texas Supreme Court ruling [...]

Texas Sunshine Coalition members unite for open governmentFOIFT2023-03-22T12:44:32-05:00

Attorney general’s office orders University of Texas to release unredacted NIL service contract

FOIFT2023-01-17T09:13:30-06:00

By Asher Price Axios Originally published Jan. 12, 2023 More than a year after Axios asked the University of Texas for a contract with a firm that offers advice on handling the new frontier of student-athletes and sponsorship money, the state attorney general's office forced university officials to fork over an unredacted copy. Why it matters: University administrators officially took no stance on the full release of the contract, but they acknowledged they defer to business interests who want information kept under wraps and asked for an opinion from the attorney general — instead of simply releasing it to the public. [...]

Attorney general’s office orders University of Texas to release unredacted NIL service contractFOIFT2023-01-17T09:13:30-06:00

Statesman: Texas lawmakers signed NDAs to quietly obtain Uvalde shooting case file

FOIFT2022-12-01T14:43:28-06:00

By Ryan Autullo and Tony Plohetski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Dec. 1, 2022 More than six months after a mass shooting in Uvalde, grieving families and the public are continuing a fierce fight for investigative records, including videos and officer statements, that would help reveal the full truth of the failed law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School. But as they press for answers from records that authorities insist remain confidential, six Texas lawmakers have quietly obtained investigatory information through written agreements with the Texas Department of Public Safety in which they vowed to keep the records secret, the American-Statesman has [...]

Statesman: Texas lawmakers signed NDAs to quietly obtain Uvalde shooting case fileFOIFT2022-12-01T14:43:28-06:00

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