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.
Open government, free speech protections to become Texas law
Legislation updating the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act along with measures that further protect freedom of speech and the press have been signed by Gov. Rick Perry and will become state law. Perry signed these open government and First Amendment protection bills Friday. They are among the major legislation supported by the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas during [...]
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas praises open government advances
AUSTIN _ Texans will gain greater access to the records and actions of their public officials under several measures supported by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas (FOIFT) and approved in the 83rd Legislature. FOIFT board members from across the state testified in favor of these leading open government proposals and First Amendment protections that won House and Senate passage, and now head [...]
Critics Say Bill Does Little To Make Judges More Accountable
By Shelley Kofler Originally published by KERA on May 21, 2013 The Texas Senate and House have passed legislation that’s supposed to rein in judges who are abusing or misusing their authority. It’s a problem KERA looked at last year in a special series, Texas Judges: Out of Order. On the House floor last Friday it took less than five minutes to pass Senate [...]
Questions of Contradiction in Ethics Bills
By Emily Ramshaw and Aman Batheja Originally published May 16, 2013 This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature. All session long, freshman state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione has been clamoring for greater transparency, trying to force lawmakers and their relatives to disclose their contracts with government agencies and shine a light on closely held [...]
Disclosure Bills Get Little Love From Top Leaders
By Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune Originally published May 1, 2013 This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature. Six months before the Texas Legislature kicked into gear, Gov. Rick Perry told reporters that candidates for public office should be as “transparent” as they can possibly be with their personal financial interests. It has remained [...]
Texas Legislature: Bills put transparency at risk; Supporters: Restricting FOI ensures justice
By Matthew Waller Originally posted 4.27.13 AUSTIN — House Rep. Phil Stephenson said he wants innocence until a person is proven guilty, and to that end, some information might be better kept away from the public. His bill, HB 1331, would specifically make confidential certain investigations and complaints received by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which would close off to the general [...]