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Texas Senate approves major Public Information Act bills

2017-03-28T20:20:01-05:00

The Texas Senate passed two major bills Tuesday that would restore public access to government records showing how taxpayer money is spent. Senate Bill 407 and Senate Bill 408 are both authored by state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin. They won final Senate passage and now move on to the House of Representatives. Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, filed identical bills in the House in the bipartisan effort. Both bills would undo damaging court rulings that weakened the Texas open records law, long considered one of the strongest in the nation. SB 407 would restore access to many taxpayer-funded contracts that were placed [...]

Texas Senate approves major Public Information Act bills2017-03-28T20:20:01-05:00

Watson, Capriglione bills close loopholes in open records law

2017-01-03T23:07:08-06:00

Tuesday, January 3, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Kate Alexander, Office of Sen. Kirk Watson: (512) 463-0114 Courtney Roberts, Office of Rep. Giovanni Capriglione: (512) 463-0690 Watson, Capriglione bills close loopholes in open records law Texas Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Sen. Kirk Watson filed two pieces of identical legislation on Tuesday to close loopholes in the Public Information Act that were created by recent Texas Supreme Court rulings. "Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent," Rep. Capriglione said. "The original intent of the Public Information Act was to be as permissive as possible in favor of [...]

Watson, Capriglione bills close loopholes in open records law2017-01-03T23:07:08-06:00

Support FOI Foundation’s free speech, open government mission in this week’s fundraiser

2016-12-13T05:20:48-06:00

We're making an online push this week to increase support for the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and its mission of promoting the First Amendment and open government. The public's right to know is crucial to our democracy. We cannot make decisions about how we are governed and who should lead us if we don't have information about our government. The FOI Foundation of Texas is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that has been working to protect the First Amendment and the free flow of information since 1978. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution today to the FOI Foundation. You'll be helping to [...]

Support FOI Foundation’s free speech, open government mission in this week’s fundraiser2016-12-13T05:20:48-06:00

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

FOI Foundation board member Laura Prather honored by SPJ for exceptional service to journalism

2016-05-11T21:46:20-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2016 INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to honor Jerry Ceppos, Laura Prather and Don Van Natta, Jr., as Fellows of the Society. This is the highest professional honor given by the Society and is awarded for extraordinary contribution to the profession. Jerry Ceppos is currently Dean and William B. Dickinson Distinguished Professor at the Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University. Previously, he worked for the San Jose Mercury News and its owner, the Knight Ridder Inc., for 33 years. He received the SPJ Ethics in Journalism Award in 1997, the [...]

FOI Foundation board member Laura Prather honored by SPJ for exceptional service to journalism2016-05-11T21:46:20-05:00

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  • Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
    Kelley Shannon, Executive Director
    3001 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 302
    Austin, Texas 78705

  • (512) 377-1575

  • [email protected]

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