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 news organizations cover legislative efforts to strengthen Public Information Act
On Tuesday, Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, filed legislation to strengthen the Texas Public Information Act and repair damage done by to the law two 2015 Texas Supreme Court rulings. News organizations around the state have written news stories and editorials on the legislative efforts. Here are some of the reports: The Dallas Morning News Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin American-Statesman [...]
Open Government Champions: Hunter’s commitment to First Amendment, open government runs deep
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 After 15 years in the Texas Legislature, Rep. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi has [...]
Texas Monthly: Texas has a transparency problem
By Leif Reigstad Texas Monthly Originally published Dec. 5, 2016 Texas received a grade of D- in the Center for Public Integrity‘s state rankings for accountability and transparency last November, including an F in the “public access to information” category. And the Lone Star State certainly didn’t do anything to improve its performance in 2016. This year state agencies have blocked public access to information regarding everything from [...]
Montgomery County commissioner proposes digital message board allowed under Open Meetings Act
By Catherine Dominguez Houston Chronicle Originally published Oct. 24, 2016 Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack is proposing a digital public message board that would allow the commissioners to communicate publicly outside a called meeting. While County Judge Craig Doyal said he sees some benefits, he said he isn't sure all the commissioners would use a digital message board. The court was scheduled to discuss [...]
Reasons for Texas’ surge in pregnancy-related deaths cloaked in secrecy, bad data
By J. David McSwane and Terri Langford The Dallas Morning News Originally published Sept. 28, 2016 The rate of pregnancy-related deaths among Texas women nearly doubled in recent years, a national study found this month, while a separate state-commissioned study found black women are especially vulnerable. Researchers can't say why maternal death rates are higher in Texas than any other state, and the reasons [...]
Texas court mulls ‘magic words’ loophole for transparency law
By Jon Cassidy Watchdog.org Originally published Sept. 14, 2016 The Supreme Court of Texas heard arguments Wednesday on whether to write a loophole into state public records law that would allow government agencies to avoid public scrutiny and disregard basic public records procedures simply by invoking “magic words.” The court could also decide to eliminate a previous loophole it created, but most of its public [...]