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.
HB 1331: Trouble Shooter testifies on open government bill
From News 4 San Antonio SAN ANTONIO – Here at News 4 San Antonio we believe you have the right to know what your government is up to, and how it spends your tax dollars. Legislation being considered up in Austin would block you from seeing the activity of a very important state agency. News 4 Trouble Shooter Jaie Avila was asked to testify [...]
Legislative Update: 2013 session
A significant open government bill approved in the 2013 legislative session expands the definition of public information in the Texas Public Information Act to include electronic communications created by, received by, or maintained by a public officer or employee connected to official business and stored on any device. Lawmakers also approved several other government transparency bills. Legislative Update: [...]
New laws protecting Texas newsrooms passed from 2009 to 2013
Over the three legislative sessions from 2009 to 2013, newsrooms have gained significantly greater protections under Texas law. Texas became the 37th state to enact a reporter's privilege law in 2009. In 2011, the Legislature joined 27 other states in adopting an anti-SLAPP statute providing for dismissal of meritless lawsuits brought against those exercising their free speech rights. In 2013, Texas became the 32nd state [...]
Information blackout on Texas public pensions must end
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally posted Feb. 13, 2013 By now, it should be clear to every member of the Legislature, even the new ones, that HB2460 should not have been approved two years ago. The bill, written by then-Rep. Vicki Truitt of Keller, dropped a curtain of secrecy around information about public retirement funds in Texas. Pretty much, it said the people who run [...]
Open books on legislative pensions
By Editorial Board, Austin American-Statesman Originally posted Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 Asked if she recalls voting on bills that would keep Texas taxpayers from knowing how much is spent on legislative pensions, State Rep. Donna Howard replied that she doesn’t. Howard, an Austin Democrat who took office in 2006, wryly noted that the legislation to deprive voters of such information wouldn’t have been announced [...]
Transparency buzz elicits some action at the Capitol
By Tim Eaton Austin American-Statesman Staff Originally published February 9, 2013 Should Texans know how much the state pays lawmakers in retirement? Is it OK for private foundations to supplement the salaries of state workers? Would government work better if voters knew how much debt it had before they are asked to approve more? These and other questions about government transparency have been bouncing [...]