At the state Capitol, the FOI Foundation of Texas supports bills promoting transparency in government and protecting the rights of free speech and free press. The foundation’s staff and volunteers advocate for legislation that strengthens the Texas Public Information Act, the Texas Open Meetings Act and other state laws. Here are updates about transparency efforts in recent Texas legislative sessions.
Journalists put new Texas public records law to the test
By Sofia Tyreman A new Texas law aims to provide more transparency through public access to government contracts under the Texas Public Information Act. Specifically, it’s intended to show how taxpayer money is being spent. News reporters are already using the law and learning about its scope. Senate Bill 943, which passed the Legislature last year and took effect Jan. 1, 2020, attempts to address [...]
Amid pandemic, Texas public record requests languish
By Asher PriceAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published April 17, 2020 A new state law, passed after Hurricane Harvey, has weakened the public’s right to know information in a timely fashion during a crisis. Some governments appear to be stretching the limits of the law and suspending filling open records requests for weeks on end. Read the full story here.
Reporters barred. Records delayed. How coronavirus shrouded local government in secrecy
By Jessica PriestUSA Today NetworkOriginally published April 8, 2020 Read the full story here. Thirty-five states have temporarily altered open government laws to curb the spread of coronavirus, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of government press releases, newspaper articles and information collected by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the National Governors Association. The agencies in these states — [...]
Sunshine Week Column: Sun starting to shine again on Texas government
By Kelley Shannon Texans have something to celebrate during Sunshine Week this year. But we also have more work to do to protect the public’s right to know about our government. Sunshine Week, March 15-21, is an annual national initiative proclaiming the importance of access to public information. First, the bright spot for Texas: Essential elements of contracts between governments and private companies – [...]
Roe v. Wade was filed 50 years ago, but Texas still won’t release the full legal files
By Karen BlumenthalOpinion piece in The Dallas Morning NewsOriginally published March 8, 2020 Getting state and local government records of any kind, especially those of a famous legal case that is nearly 50 years old, should not require a lawyer or a bucket of cash. The state’s Public Information Act is supposed to compel state and local governmental bodies to release records to those [...]
Newly enacted Texas law to shine light on spending of taxpayer money
By Asher PriceAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 3, 2020 How much taxpayer money did the University of Texas pay the rapper Ludacris to perform after a spring football game last year? Or how much money is the Teacher Retirement System paying for new digs in downtown Austin? Public entities declined to release information that would answer either of these questions, posed by the American-Statesman, citing [...]