Texas Open Meetings Act

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

Activist sues Austin over housing deal, claims Open Meetings Act violation

FOIFT2016-02-11T15:15:02-06:00

By Andra Lim Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 10, 2016 A judge should void an affordable housing deal, in which several Austin City Council members said they unknowingly waived up to $106.3 million in city fees, because the lack of public notice violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, said a lawsuit filed Wednesday by civic activist Brian Rodgers. Rodgers started asking questions last month about the deal, which was approved in December and negotiated by the offices of Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Delia Garza. The deal requires the developer of Easton Park near Southeast Austin to place an amount [...]

Activist sues Austin over housing deal, claims Open Meetings Act violationFOIFT2016-02-11T15:15:02-06:00

Editorial: Investigation can determine whether mobility authority broke open meetings law

FOIFT2016-02-08T18:59:08-06:00

By Editorial Board Austin American-Statesman Originally published Feb. 6, 2016 The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority again has come under fire regarding concerns about whether it is doing the public’s business in secret. At this point, there are few options in getting answers from CTRMA officials, whose statements to Travis County commissioners last week triggered questions about whether they are violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. The CTRMA is an independent governing agency with no direct accountability to the public. For those reasons, as well as the agency’s history of shielding information from the public, we support Travis County Commissioner Brigid [...]

Editorial: Investigation can determine whether mobility authority broke open meetings lawFOIFT2016-02-08T18:59:08-06:00

Attorney general to investigate Smith County Commissioners Court on open meetings

FOIFT2015-06-29T14:46:13-05:00

By Faith Harper Tyler Morning Telegraph Originally published June 26, 2015 The Texas Attorney General’s Office will investigate whether the Smith County Commissioners Court violated the Texas Open Meetings Act while working to place unmanned speed cameras in school zones. The investigation stems from a complaint filed in the Smith County District Attorney’s Office by JoAnn Fleming, executive director of Grassroots America — We the People. The six-page complaint, dated May 12, cites nine concerns about the contract with American Traffic Solutions for the cameras and how informed the public was on the contract negotiations. Texas Open Meetings Act violations are [...]

Attorney general to investigate Smith County Commissioners Court on open meetingsFOIFT2015-06-29T14:46:13-05:00

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open records

FOIFT2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

Editorial Tyler Morning Telegraph Originally published March 25, 2015 One of the best ideas to come out of this year’s Sunshine Week — a week dedicated to open and accountable government — is a bipartisan movement in Austin to change the way governing bodies such as cities and counties do economic development. An “Economic Development Transparency Coalition” has formed, calling on the Legislature to change the Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act to make economic development matters — like tax incentives and abatements — open to the public. The Coalition includes conservative groups, such as the Texas Public Policy [...]

Tyler Morning Telegraph: Tax deals should be open recordsFOIFT2015-03-26T15:07:44-05:00

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