Texas Public Information Act

Legislation clarifies “business days” when responding to Texas Public Information Act requests

FOIFT2021-02-01T21:05:06-06:00

Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, has filed an open government bill designed to clarify "business days" for governmental entities responding to requests made under the Texas Public Information Act. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, some governments have refused to respond to TPIA requests if their physical offices were closed, even if the staff was working remotely. Many of those governments, citing guidance from the Texas attorney general's office, said such a day didn't count as a business day for the TPIA. Capriglione's bill would give clearer guidelines for TPIA response days. The proposed legislation is House Bill 1416.

Legislation clarifies “business days” when responding to Texas Public Information Act requestsFOIFT2021-02-01T21:05:06-06:00

Austin cites new state law to keep secret pandemic relief non-profits

FOIFT2021-01-11T20:50:22-06:00

By Ryan AutulloAustin American-StatesmanOriginally published Jan. 8, 2021 More than $6 million in taxpayer money flowed to Austin nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but taxpayers might never learn the identities of the organizations that got the money or get a chance to dig into their stated need for assistance. The city of Austin is citing a little-noticed provision in a new Texas law to keep secret the identities of non-profits receiving taxpayer pandemic relief funds. Read the full story here.

Austin cites new state law to keep secret pandemic relief non-profitsFOIFT2021-01-11T20:50:22-06:00

Newspaper highlights its best uses of Texas Public Information Act in 2020

FOIFT2021-01-11T20:51:58-06:00

By Marshall ReidDenton Record-ChronicleOriginally published Dec. 29, 2020 Each year, Denton Record-Chronicle reporters send dozens of requests for public information, a quasi-formal process to obtain hard-to-obtain information from government agencies. Requests range from routine contract requests to more complicated asks that often get bumped to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for guidance. Read the full story here about some of the best uses of the Texas Public Information Act by the Record-Chronicle in 2020.

Newspaper highlights its best uses of Texas Public Information Act in 2020FOIFT2021-01-11T20:51:58-06:00

After shutting down workouts, UH avoids serious COVID-19 outbreaks, public records show

FOIFT2020-11-16T22:34:44-06:00

By Joseph DuarteHouston ChronicleOriginally published Nov. 12, 2020 The University of Houston athletic department has avoided any serious outbreaks of the novel coronavirus since temporarily halting voluntary summer workouts in June, test results provided to the Houston Chronicle show. During a nearly three-month span from July 30 to Oct. 22, the athletic department reported 26 positive cases out of 5,453 tests administered — a positivity rate of .005 percent — for 14 varsity sports, according to data obtained through an open-records request. Read the full story here.

After shutting down workouts, UH avoids serious COVID-19 outbreaks, public records showFOIFT2020-11-16T22:34:44-06:00

FOI Column: Even during a pandemic, government must be open with easy access

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:20-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Reopening public places amid the COVID-19 pandemic should certainly be carried out with caution. Government offices are no exception. Yet citizens must have the ability to watch over their government, even during an emergency. Especially during an emergency. It’s long past time to reopen public access to government records and meetings that have been shut off for months. This can happen even if government employees continue to work from home for safety reasons. The Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act – two major open government laws that help us learn about everything from local zoning [...]

FOI Column: Even during a pandemic, government must be open with easy accessFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:20-05:00

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