Texas Legislature

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

Open Government Champions: Capriglione pushes ahead with transparency agenda in Legislature

FOIFT2016-08-24T16:46:11-05:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is one in an occasional series of opinion pieces on legislators and other Texans who are openly committed to sustaining government transparency and accountability. The articles are being prepared and distributed by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Press Association. By DAVE MONTGOMERY During the 2015 Texas Legislature, while most other transparency and ethics reform proposals were headed toward the trash heap, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione secured near-unanimous passage of a new law that has enabled the public to see who benefits financially from dealings with the government. His victory in pushing through House Bill [...]

Open Government Champions: Capriglione pushes ahead with transparency agenda in LegislatureFOIFT2016-08-24T16:46:11-05:00

Abbott includes ethics reform, cites need for transparency, in issuing emergency proclamations

FOIFT2015-02-20T18:14:56-06:00

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott cited the need for transparency as he issued five proclamations today for emergency items to be considered in the 84th Texas Legislature. The emergency designation means lawmakers can take up those issues earlier than other bills. Abbott included ethics reform among the emergency items, as he had announced he would do earlier this week during his State of the State address. "The faith and trust that Texas citizens place in their elected officials requires each of us to conduct the business of the state in the most transparent and honest manner possible," Abbott said on ethics reforms. [...]

Abbott includes ethics reform, cites need for transparency, in issuing emergency proclamationsFOIFT2015-02-20T18:14:56-06:00

A conundrum for Texas Capitol gatekeepers: What makes a reporter a reporter?

FOIFT2014-07-28T14:21:39-05:00

By Ross Ramsey The Texas Tribune Originally published July 28, 2014 Texas lawmakers are going to have to figure out what a reporter is. You have no reason to care about this, unless you want to keep up with what is being done in your name at the Texas Capitol, and you think having reporters on the floor of the House and Senate increases your chances of finding out. On the flip side, there is the legitimate concern that a news reporter who might also be a lobbyist and campaign activist could be prowling the floor next session with a media [...]

A conundrum for Texas Capitol gatekeepers: What makes a reporter a reporter?FOIFT2014-07-28T14:21:39-05:00

Transparency committee to vote on impeachment recommendation in May

FOIFT2014-04-25T15:42:49-05:00

By Reeve Hamilton The Texas Tribune Originally published April 24, 2014 A legislative committee that is investigating University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall plans to vote at a hearing on May 12 whether to recommend articles of impeachment to the full House. If it requires more time, the vote may not come until May 13. The House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations met on Thursday for the first time since its special counsel, Houston attorney Rusty Hardin, issued a report laying out four possible grounds for Hall's impeachment. The reasons listed in Hardin's report include allegations that the [...]

Transparency committee to vote on impeachment recommendation in MayFOIFT2014-04-25T15:42:49-05:00

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