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.
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 [...]
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 [...]