Texas Public Information Act

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

Texas Tribune Analysis: Some of the secrets of Texas government aren’t supposed to be secrets

FOIFT2019-03-25T18:09:18-05:00

By Ross RamseyThe Texas TribuneOriginally published March 25, 2019 The Texas Legislature, full of people who believe in open government and who also like to settle things quietly and outside of public view, is diving into open-government legislation. Read the full analysis here.

Texas Tribune Analysis: Some of the secrets of Texas government aren’t supposed to be secretsFOIFT2019-03-25T18:09:18-05:00

No right to know? Texas public records get harder and harder to acquire

FOIFT2019-03-19T21:29:21-05:00

By Jeremy BlackmanHouston ChronicleOriginally published March 14, 2019 In Texas, records that might have once been public are increasingly difficult to obtain, according to an analysis of 10 years worth of attorney general's decisions by ABC13 in collaboration with the Houston Chronicle. The review found that the number of appeals from state and local agencies to withhold information has nearly doubled in the past decade. The Houston Chronicle took an in-depth look at the roadblocks to public information in Texas in this story published during Sunshine Week. Read the full article here.

No right to know? Texas public records get harder and harder to acquireFOIFT2019-03-19T21:29:21-05:00

Sunshine Week: Free speech, public’s right to know under attack in Texas, so let’s act now

FOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:25-05:00

By Kelley Shannon Executive Director FOI Foundation of Texas We Texans are fiercely independent and like to make our views known. On that, surely, we can agree. Using our First Amendment right to speak out goes hand in hand with access to public information that helps us understand how our government functions. Unfortunately, both basic American principles – free speech and the people’s right to know – are under attack in Texas. There’s no better time to urge our state lawmakers to protect these precious freedoms than “Sunshine Week,” March 10-16, a nationwide celebration of open government. The Texas Sunshine Coalition, [...]

Sunshine Week: Free speech, public’s right to know under attack in Texas, so let’s act nowFOIFT2022-03-31T17:08:25-05:00

Legislators hear testimony on closing police loophole in Texas Public Information Act

FOIFT2019-02-28T05:52:46-06:00

AUSTIN _ The parents of teens and young adults who died in police custody urged the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday to close a loophole in the Public Information Act so they can access records about their loved ones' deaths. "Government transparency is government transparency, even when it's not pretty," said House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody, D-El Paso, as he explained the need for his House Bill 147. "It's better for people to know the truth, even if it's ugly and complicated and challenging." The legislation would prevent law enforcement agencies from withholding records in cases that did not [...]

Legislators hear testimony on closing police loophole in Texas Public Information ActFOIFT2019-02-28T05:52:46-06:00

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