Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas

09/23/2026

We're heading to Amarillo for an Open Government Seminar on Oct. 8. Join us for this free in-person training on the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act. Details at

Open Government Seminars address timely topics related to the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act and include updates on recent changes to the laws. The program provides detailed training and is directed toward government employees, attorneys, journalists and anyone wanting to l...

09/23/2026

https://foift.org/2026/09/23/dallas-morning-news-kris-6-news-in-corpus-christi-win-2026-spirit-of-foi-awards/

For Immediate Release Dallas Morning News, KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi win 2026 Spirit of FOI Awards AUSTIN – A series by The Dallas Morning News on a failed crime-fighting plan at the local housing authority and reporting by KRIS 6 News on questionable land deals and tax incentives involving th...

09/17/2026

https://austinfreepress.org/sunshine-day/

Texas’ open-government laws face growing challenges. A transparency group is pushing lawmakers for stronger protections ahead of the 2027 session.

09/08/2026

Join us for the FOI Foundation of Texas state conference "Tracking the Truth, Safeguarding First Amendment Rights" Sept. 18 in Austin. More details are in the column below and on our foift.org website.
https://foift.org/2026/09/07/foifts-sept-18-conference-to-address-free-speech-information-rights/

Public information, free speech rights go hand in hand FOI Foundation state conference Sept. 18 to explore these topics By Kelley Shannon It takes time and energy to keep a close watch on our government, but it’s our right as citizens. Really, it’s a duty. Transparency laws along with liberties ...

07/22/2026

JAMES MADISON AWARD: Today FOIFT announces that Diana Fuentes, a longtime Texas journalist, news leader and ardent advocate for a free press, will posthumously receive this year's James Madison Award. Join us at the FOIFT state conference in Austin on Sept. 18 to celebrate Diana and learn the latest on free speech rights and government transparency.

https://foift.org/2026/07/22/texas-news-leader-free-press-advocate-diana-fuentes-recipient-of-james-madison-award/

07/11/2026

https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2026/public-records-requests-wait-times-too-long/

As backlogs grow, staffing shrinks and requests languish for years, journalists say records often arrive too late to hold anyone accountable

06/30/2026

K*T reports: Austin City Council has been voting in secret for years, despite the city's claims of transparency

The City Council may have been voting on Austin Energy matters in closed-door meetings since 1999. The votes are kept so secret that public records do not even indicate that they happened at all.

06/22/2026

NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Garrett Haake will be the keynote speaker at the FOI Foundation state conference. Registration is open. Join us in Austin on Sept. 18!

06/15/2026

DFW friends: Join us this Thursday, June 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. for a free Open Government Seminar at the Hyatt Regency DFW airport. We'll have expert attorneys presenting training on the Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act. See details at

Speakers will also discuss what government entities can legally charge for records.

06/01/2026

Have you encountered a roadblock when making a Texas Public Information Act request? Tell us about it. We're collecting examples of the law not working as it should so that we can improve it. Here's a handy form to submit your example and explain why it matters to the public:

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislature, is gathering data on compliance problems citizens and journalists are having with the Texas Public Information Act or other open government issues. Please fill out the form below.