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.
Texas must act now to repair damage to Public Information Act
By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas We Texans are fortunate when it comes to access to government information. Correction. We were fortunate. For more than 40 years, Texas’ open records law was one of the nation’s strongest. The Texas Public Information Act, originating during a time of scandal in the early 1970s, presumes all government records are available to [...]
Some Texas lawmakers want to close open records loophole
By Nicole Cobler San Antonio Express-News Originally published Feb. 28, 2017 Some state lawmakers are aiming to close an open records loophole in light of a 2015 Texas Supreme court ruling that allows governments to withhold records turned over to agencies by businesses. Lawmakers debated a slew of open records legislation in a Senate hearing Tuesday, including Sen. Kirk Watson’s bill that responds to [...]
Senate committee hears Boeing, Greater Houston Partnership repair bills
AUSTIN - Witnesses who support repairing the Texas Public Information Act and boosting citizens' access to records showing how taxpayer money is spent urged a state Senate committee Tuesday to rework parts of the act. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, in a hearing before the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, presented legislation that would strengthen the Public Information Act. Senate Bill 407 and Senate Bill [...]
Senators vow to fight confidential agreements they had to sign before viewing vote complaints
By Nicole Cobler San Antonio Express-News Originally published Feb. 9, 2017 AUSTIN — Two Texas senators are promising to fight confidential agreements they signed before being allowed to view voter fraud complaints reported to the secretary of state’s office. Their plan to make the information public follows newly nominated Secretary of State Rolando Pablos’ declaration in a Senate committee hearing last week that “there [...]
Texas Supreme Court ruling expands government exception for attorney-client privilege
By Chuck Lindell Austin American Statesman Originally published Feb. 3, 2017 In another decision that has alarmed open government advocates, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday carved out a special exception for public access to government information involving communication with lawyers. The 7-2 ruling said protecting attorney-client privilege is too important to force governments to disclose such information, even if the Texas Public Information [...]
Texas clerks look to derail web-based public access to court records
By Ryan Autullo Austin American-Statesman Originally published Jan. 30, 2017 Texas court clerks are resisting a state proposal they say would strip them of their constitutional authority by making court documents available online for easy public access. The statewide database, re:SearchTX, holds records from all 254 counties and is backed by the state’s Supreme Court. It currently is used by judges and soon will be [...]