Executive Director’s Columns

Texas must act now to repair damage to Public Information Act

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:36-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas We Texans are fortunate when it comes to access to government information. Correction. We were fortunate. For more than 40 years, Texas’ open records law was one of the nation’s strongest. The Texas Public Information Act, originating during a time of scandal in the early 1970s, presumes all government records are available to citizens, unless there’s a specific exception preventing release of the document. But our modern era of openness shifted dramatically with two state Supreme Court decisions in 2015 known as the Boeing ruling and the Greater Houston Partnership [...]

Texas must act now to repair damage to Public Information ActFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:36-05:00

Court rulings taking a toll on Texas public records access

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:38-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Those of us who keep a close eye on Texas’ evolving open government laws watch the state Legislature for signs of change. We also look at how local and state government agencies carry out these laws to see if they are working. But we must focus on the courts, too. Troubling rulings by the Texas Supreme Court and lower courts are watering down our Texas Public Information Act, long considered one of the strongest in the nation. The momentous law, which originated as the Texas Open Records Act in the early 1970s amid citizen frustration after the Sharpstown [...]

Court rulings taking a toll on Texas public records accessFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:38-05:00

Celebrate ‘Sunshine Week,’ cherish Texas transparency

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:39-05:00

By Kelley Shannon FOI Foundation of Texas March 14, 2016 We Texans have a history of straight talk and openness, and our state’s public information laws reflect it. Shining light on our government allows democracy to flourish. As we celebrate that light during national Sunshine Week from March 13-19, let’s be thankful that Texas laws value the public’s right to know through broad access to records and meetings. But we cannot grow complacent. We must fight to keep the laws strong. Every year, there are attempts to chip away at our Texas transparency in the courts, at the Legislature and in [...]

Celebrate ‘Sunshine Week,’ cherish Texas transparencyFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:39-05:00

When seeking public records, know your rights, responsibilities

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:40-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas If you’ve seen news reports on suspicious state contracts or chemical waste pits or officials’ text messages in the Waco biker shootout, you may notice a recurring theme: Government records obtained through the Texas Public Information Act. Fortunately, our state’s public information law, created in the early 1970s, presumes government records are open unless a specific exemption in the law keeps the documents off limits. The public has a right to know. That means all citizens - not only journalists - can access government records. “It’s very easy,” said award-winning [...]

When seeking public records, know your rights, responsibilitiesFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:40-05:00

Positive open government bills emerging at Capitol, too

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:42-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas Every legislative session there are attempts to shut off government information to the public, and this year is no exception. But there are also a number of positive open government bills emerging at the Texas Capitol. Throughout the session, we'll highlight some good open government bills in periodic blog posts. Here are a few of those bills filed so far: Senate Bill 308 by Sen. John Whitmire. This measure would ensure that the records of private universities' police departments are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Senate Bill 434 [...]

Positive open government bills emerging at Capitol, tooFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:42-05:00

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