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.
Rep. Todd Hunter, FOIFT leaders talk open government with journalists at Sunshine Week briefing
Journalists met with leaders of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, for a Sunshine Week briefing Wednesday on open government legislation pending at the state Capitol. "There's nothing wrong with providing public information," Hunter said, urging news reporters to educate their audience on "the positiveness and the common sense of these laws." Also speaking at the briefing [...]
Sunshine Week: Legislative spotlight on private email accounts, police records, news reporting
By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Private university police beat a man suspected of stealing a bicycle. The violent episode was captured on a dash camera, but when questions arose the police refused to release the complete video. City officials used their personal email accounts to discuss government business, just as Hillary Clinton did as secretary of state. When [...]
Public, media, staff barred from Texas Senate committee meeting
By Mike Ward Houston Chronicle Originally published March 4, 2015 AUSTIN – When the Senate Education Committee convened on the Senate floor Wednesday, just minutes after the day's session recessed, senators quickly discussed and passed a bill doing something about high school graduations. Even though the meeting involved public business, their discussions were not. The reason: A new Senate rule, sergeants-at-arms insisted as they [...]
Victoria Advocate: Bill would close loophole in obtaining information from private accounts
By the Editorial Board Victoria Advocate Originally published March 4, 2015 Government is the servant, not the master of the people. This very principle, the first words of the Texas Public Information Act, is the fundamental philosophy of our constitutional form of representative government. All too often, elected officials skirt the law by conducting the public's business away from watchful eyes. With ever-evolving technology, [...]
Journalists, FOI advocates urge passage of third party allegation law
AUSTIN - Advocates for watchdog reporting testified Monday in favor of a Senate bill that provides limited protections for news accounts about potential wrongdoing that are based on third party allegations. Senate Bill 627 would codify what has been part of common law since 1990, said Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, as she introduced her bill before the Senate State Affairs Committee, which she chairs. [...]
Abbott includes ethics reform, cites need for transparency, in issuing emergency proclamations
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott cited the need for transparency as he issued five proclamations today for emergency items to be considered in the 84th Texas Legislature. The emergency designation means lawmakers can take up those issues earlier than other bills. Abbott included ethics reform among the emergency items, as he had announced he would do earlier this week during his State of the State [...]