Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas

Some public officials confused over new law allowing public comment at meetings

FOIFT2019-11-11T21:33:12-06:00

By Steve MillerThe Texas MonitorOriginally published Nov. 7, 2019 The Amarillo City Council once tried to ban clapping at its meetings, then decided to start meeting at 7 a.m., a move some local critics claimed was done to reduce public input. Finally, last year, the council moved all public comments to a work session an hour before the regular meeting. In South Texas, Hidalgo County commissioners and the city councils of Pharr, Mercedes and Donna elected to completely halt public comment at meetings. So did the City of McAllen, where council members claimed that someone could get sued over remarks made by [...]

Some public officials confused over new law allowing public comment at meetingsFOIFT2019-11-11T21:33:12-06:00

FOI Foundation of Texas urges media, public access at immigration court proceedings

FOIFT2019-09-25T16:50:16-05:00

For Immediate Release Sept. 24, 2019 AUSTIN _ The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas today expressed deep concern regarding the lack of media and public access to judicial proceedings being held in makeshift immigration courts on the Texas-Mexico border. Public and media access to immigration-related judicial proceedings should be unfettered; both the U.S. Constitution and this country’s long and proud tradition of open courts mandate full transparency. Allowing public and media access to only a portion of such proceedings – those held in traditional courtrooms – is insufficient to ensure the public’s right to know about its government. When the subjects [...]

FOI Foundation of Texas urges media, public access at immigration court proceedingsFOIFT2019-09-25T16:50:16-05:00

Documents withheld surrounding officer-involved shooting

FOIFT2019-07-15T21:40:31-05:00

By Marshall ReidDenton Record-ChronicleOriginally published July 14, 2019 Disclosure of certain law enforcement records rests in the hands of Attorney General Ken Paxton. In an attempt to learn more about a June 29 officer-involved shooting, the Denton Record-Chronicle filed a request for information under the Texas Public Information Act on July 2. The newspaper requested body camera video, the offense report, 911 call audio, dash camera video, audio of calls for service and more. On July 11, the paper received notice from a paralegal working on behalf of the sheriff’s office that the request had been appealed to the attorney general, who has [...]

Documents withheld surrounding officer-involved shootingFOIFT2019-07-15T21:40:31-05:00

State Bar announces Texas Gavel Award winners for 2019

FOIFT2019-07-09T20:51:38-05:00

The State Bar of Texas Public Affairs Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Texas Gavel Awards. The awards honor journalism that deepens public understanding of the legal system. Click here to see the list of winners. Gavel Award winners will be honored at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference luncheon on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019.

State Bar announces Texas Gavel Award winners for 2019FOIFT2019-07-09T20:51:38-05:00

Texas’ highest criminal court strikes down a provision of Open Meetings Act as ‘constitutionally vague’

FOIFT2019-02-27T18:03:41-06:00

By Emma Platoff The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 27, 2019 In a major blow to the state’s government transparency laws, Texas’ highest criminal court has struck down a significant provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act, calling it “unconstitutionally vague.” That law, which imposes basic requirements providing for public access to and information about governmental meetings, makes it a crime for public officials to “knowingly [conspire] to circumvent this chapter by meeting in numbers less than a quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations.” That provision aims to keep public officials from convening smaller meetings — without an official quorum [...]

Texas’ highest criminal court strikes down a provision of Open Meetings Act as ‘constitutionally vague’FOIFT2019-02-27T18:03:41-06:00

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