Fort Bend County commissioners have joined a list of local officials asking Texas to suspend its Open Meetings Act during times of crisis after they say it caused issues in communication during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey last year. The Open Meetings Act requires public notice before a meeting of three or more elected officials. […]
Read More… from Texas Officials Ask State to Suspend Open Meeting Laws in Crises
Open government advocates are spending the year ahead of the 2019 legislative session rallying allies to restore access to public information lost after a 2015 Texas Supreme Court ruling. That year, the court ruled in Boeing v. Paxton that information that could help a business’ competitor cannot be made public, even if that company enters […]
Read More… from Texas open-government advocates look to 2019 to improve transparency
From The Republic: AUSTIN, Texas — Republican candidate for governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday he supports making it legal to openly carry handguns in public and wants to place stricter limits on state agencies selling personal information from public records.
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From Mondaq: Governmental entities in Texas, and the companies that transact with them, should be aware of new changes in Texas “open government” law that may affect how they do business. On September 1, 2013, changes in state law became effective that are intended to make Texas “open government” law more open. These changes affect the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) and the obligations of public officials, employees and private companies to comply with Texas open records law.
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From Temple Daily Telegram: Following an early July visit to the Bell County Sheriff’s Department to get copies of new jail administrator Nancy Botkin’s personnel file as part of a Public Information Act request, in September I received a mailed letter from the Texas Attorney General’s office regarding certain information that the sheriff’s office had redacted.
The information that was requested, with certain redactions, was mailed on July 9, within 10 days of the information request.
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Read More… from Texas AG says some redacted info can be released
From NFOIC: A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
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Read More… from NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for October 11, 2013
From Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas: Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office has ruled that a state lawmaker’s documents related to the American Legislative Exchange Council must be made public.
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Read More… from Texas AG’s office says legislative documents must be released
AUSTIN, Texas — Rep. Todd Hunter, who has authored legislation to improve public access to government and protect First Amendment rights, is receiving the Open Government Lawmaker of the Year Award from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas.
Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, is chairman of the House Calendars Committee. He served in the House from 1989-97 and returned in 2009. He has long been an advocate for open government. Hunter will receive the award during the FOI Foundation’s annual conference Aug. 9 in Austin.
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Read More… from FOIFT names Rep. Todd Hunter Open Government Lawmaker of the Year
We’re sorry we missed our usual State FOIA Friday last week (May 17) but we were otherwise occupied in New Orleans for the annual FOI Summit.
A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
UW-Madison seeks limits on open records regarding research
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From Courthouse News Service: AUSTIN (CN) – Prison Legal News sued the Corrections Corporation of America, the nation's largest private prison contractor, for records about its contracts in Texas and lawsuits filed against CCA there.
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